JACKSON    BOYD 
From  a  photograph  by  Cammack 


THE  UNVEILING 

A  POETIC  DRAMA 
IN  FIVE  ACTS 


BY 

JACKSON  BOYD 


G.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS 

NEW  YORK  LONDON 

Cbe  Itnichetbocltet  ptees 
1915 


Copyright,  1915 

BY 

G.  P.  PUTNAM'S   SONS 
(The  right  to  produce  on  the  stage  is  reserved) 


TTbc  Iftnfcfterbocfjcr  ipress,  IRcw  13orft 


DRAMATIS  PERSONAE 


Ormazd,  the  God  of  Light 
Ahriman,  the  God  of  Darkness 

Francis  Hardy,  )  ^^^p^?  *'« 
Victor  Waring,  )  University 
Dr.  Andrews  "j 

{Afterwards  Presi-    Teachers 
dent  of  the  U.S.),\      in 
Dr.  Romaine,  same 

Prof.  Hawtry,       J 
Jasper  Stilwell 
SuPT.  Wellesly 
Brooks, 
Davis, 

Young  Hardy, 
Young  Brooks, 
Penrose,         ) 
Ramsden,         >■ 
Rowlands,      ) 
Fool,  leader  of  Skulls 
Victor,  a  boy 
Jones,  a  litigant 
Boyce,  a  soldier 
Conger,  a  clerical 
Conyers, 

Higgins, 


Students 

in 

same 

Trustees 

in 

same 


Mitchell,  a  workingman 
Brinkmever,  an  agitator 
The  Ghost  of  Hardy 
Students 
Strikers 
Workingmen 

Skulls,  a  college  society  whose 
initiates  dress  as  clowns 


Elizabeth  Selwyn,]  Seniors 
Doris  Denham,  {^iSZ 
Miss  Waring,  J     gUy 

Mrs.  Waring,  nee  Denham 
Mrs.  Hardy,  nee  Selwyn 
Artemis,  Grecian  Goddess  im- 
personated by  Miss  Selwyn 
Athene,  Grecian  Goddess  im- 
personated by  Miss  Denham 
Miss  Brooks 
Victoria,  a  girl 
Mrs.  Pollock,  I  Politi- 

Mrs.  VAN  Schuster,  J  cians 
Annette,  a  servant 
Women  Factory  Workers 
Students,  Co-eds 
Women  Politicians 


THE  PLACE 
The  United  States  of  America 

THE  TIME 

Act     I.  To-day. 

Act    II.  The  same. 

Act  III.  Twenty  years  in  the  future. 

Act  IV.  Twenty-three  years  in  the  future. 

Act    V.  To-day. 


343514 


THE  COSTUMES 

As  this  drama  gives  a  picture  of  a  dream  world, 
the  dress  of  the  characters  should  be  as  striking, 
picturesque,  and  beautiful  as  is  possible,  patterned 
after  the  costumes  of  the  past  in  respect  to  silken 
hose,  mantles,  and  feathered  hats  for  the  men,  and 
properly  harmonious  costumes  for  the  women,  but 
offering,  also,  suggestions  of  the  possible  dress  of 
the  future.  The  Fool  and  the  Skulls  are  in  motley. 
The  dress  of  Ormazd  is  white,  while  that  of  Ahriman 
is  red;  and,  as  the  play  develops,  the  one  becomes 
more  and  more  brilliant  while  the  other  becomes 
more  and  more  dingy.  As  there  is  a  gradual  evolu- 
tion of  the  followers  of  Ormazd,  and  a  gradual 
degeneration  of  the  followers  of  Ahriman,  the 
costtunes  of  the  characters  should  show  this  change. 
The  college  professors,  trustees,  and  university 
authorities  are  dressed  in  caps  and  gowns  to  indi- 
cate their  respective  positions. 


[v 


ARGUMENT 

That  life  is  a  dream  has  been  a  fiction  of  the 
poets  since  the  beginning ;  that  a  dream  can  express 
life  is  the  plot  of  this  drama. 

Francis  Hardy  and  Victor  Waring,  two  philo- 
sophical students  of  Blair  University,  obtain  the 
statues  of  the  Gods  Ormazd  and  Ahriman,  and, 
after  the  ceremony  of  the  unveiling,  which  is  the 
conclusion  of  the  song  before  the  curtain  goes  up, 
Hardy  dreams  that,  in  a  discussion  with  Waring, 
they  call  upon  the  statues  to  come  to  life,  and  tell 
them  what  Truth  is,  and  solve  for  them  the  prob- 
lems of  existence,  Love,  Ambition,  Religion;  and, 
as  it  is  a  dream,  the  miracle  happens. 

The  action  of  the  drama  consists  in  the  unfolding 
of  the  lives  of  its  characters  under  the  patronage 
of  the  Gods.  Nature  is  unveiled,  life  revealed, 
and  reality  made  to  stand  out  above  appearances; 
yet  it  is  all  a  dream. 


[  vii 


ACT  I 


[il 


ACT  I 
{While  the  curtain  is  down,  students  sing). 

Play,  play,  play  the  work  we  take ! 

Care,  care,  care  away! 
A  jolly  fake  is  what  will  make 

The  dullest  night  a  day! 

Joke,  joke,  joke  on  Prof,  and  Frat. 

Work,  work,  work  delay! 
'Tis  this  and  that  and  other  chat 

Until  the  dawn  of  day ! 

Night,  night,  night  'tis  you  above 

Day,  day,  day  that's  bright ! 
Our  Uf e  we  prove  with  songs  of  love ! 

Good  night !  Good  night !  Good  night  I 

Scene  I :  The  scene  is  a  reception  room  in  a  Greek 
letter  fraternity  house. 

Beginning  at  entrances,  one  on  each  side  of  the 

stage,  and  reaching  far  out  on  the  stage,  are  dull  green 

hangings,  meeting  similar  hangings  on  each  side  of 

the  stage,  extending  up  to  entrance  three,  and  ending 

(3l 


THE  UNVEILING 


in  similar  hangings  at  the  back.  About  the  room  are 
athletic  trophies,  banners,  and  other  evidence  of  college 
life.  In  the  center  of  the  stage  is  a  table  arranged 
as  if  a  feast  had  just  taken  place. 

Hardy  is  discovered  returning  from  up  stage,  after 
bidding  the  departing  guests  good  night.  Waring  is 
sitting  on  the  right  of  the  table.  Both  are  dressed  in 
picturesque  costumes,  Waring  affecting  light,  Hardy 
dark  colors. 

As  the  curtain  goes  up,  the  hangings  on  the  sides  of 
the  room  part  and  disclose  the  undraped  statues  of 
Ormazd  of  white  marble  on  the  right,  and  Ahriman 
of  red  marble  on  the  left.  The  lights  on  the  stage  are 
not  natural,  and  brighten  to  the  accompaniment  of 
dreamlike  music. 

HARDY 

Why  enter  on  discussion  now  of  all 
The  theories  of  life? 

WARING 

That  was  the  program. 

HARDY 

I'd  rather  make  a  night  of  it  in  feast 
And  song! 

WARING 

That  you  have  done! 

HARDY 

Do  not  reproach  me! 

[4] 


THE  UNVEILING 


WARING 

But  then,  on  this  occasion  were  we  not 
To  settle,  once  for  all,  just  what  Truth  is. 
And  publish,  by  unveiling  these  great  statues, 
Its  oneness  to  the  world? 
[Weird  music] 

HARDY 

You  must  remember 
We  differ  much  in  our  philosophy ! 
You  base  the  Truth  on  dreams,  imagination, 
Tradition,  hope,  and  what  love  wants ! 

WARING 

Why  not 
Allow  the  hidden  force  in  life  its  share? 

The  under-current 

[Weird  music] 

HARDY 

No!    We  hope  alike, 
But  differ  in  philosophy ! 

WARING 

Quite  true! 
You  take  the  facts,  I  intuition!    You 
Affect  the  physical,  materialism 

HARDY 

What  is  there  else  to  take? 
[5l 


THE  UNVEILING 


WARING 

Had  we  the  faith 
Of  them  of  old,  the  secrets  of  the  world 
Would  be  revealed!    Were  we  to  clasp  our  hands, 

[Weird  music] 
Shut  out  the  world,  and  look  within  ourselves, 
Then  should  we  see  what  Nature  is !    The  All 
Would  be  revealed! 

[Music  climax] 

HARDY 

Are  we  so  in  accord 
With  things  to-day? 

WARING 

We  are!    The  world  of  old 
Drank  deep  of  this  occult  philosophy ; 
But  we  deny  ourselves  all  truth  and  power 
Save  what  we  demonstrate ! 

[Music  romantic] 

HARDY 

You  do  beguile  me  I 
I  feel  as  if  some  hidden  force  were  ours. 
Which,  when  disclosed  to  us,  will  open  Nature — 
Will  be  a  new  developed  sense!     Our  quest? 

WARING 

Rather,  the  culmination  of  our  years 
Of  study.     You  one  type  of  man,  and  I 
Another.     You,  individualistic,  I 
Religious.    You  believe  in  might  and  force, 
[6] 


THE  UNVEILING 


The  subtle  ways  of  doing  things — the  art, 

The  tricks,  the  schemes,  the  wiles  and  subterfuges. 

You  are  the  principle  of  opposition, 

And  I  of  peace ! 

HARDY 

In  Nature,  everywhere, 
I  see  two  things,  two  lives,  and  only  two ! 
Free  will  gives  us  the  choice ! 

WARING 

And  Nature  lives 
Through  their  eternal  war!     But  every  power 
That  Man  has  e'er  invoked  through  hope  of  gain. 
Or  feared  through  faith,  since  consciousness  began, 
Still  lives;  and,  if  approached  in  proper  form. 
Will  duly  serve  him!    Not  by  some  magic  cult; 

[Weird  music] 
It  is  because  the  growth  of  Nature  finds 
In  us  the  long-sought  end  of  evolution; 
Its  perfect  form !    As  lip  to  lip  makes  love, 
So  hand  to  hand  completes  the  unity 
That  opens  Nature! 

[Weird  music  swells  out] 

HARDY 

You  entrance  me !    Ah ! 
Were  I  to  touch  your  hand,  I  feel  the  veil 
Would  lift,  and  we  should  stand  aface  to  face 
With  things!     Let  us  experiment! 

[Weird  music  increases] 

[7] 


THE  UNVEILING 


WARING 

The  course 
Of  Nature  shows  a  time  must  come  on  Earth 
When  things  will  know  themselves,  and  all  that  was, 
And  is,  and  shall  be,  will  appear  one  thing, 
Nature  aface  with  self! 

HARDY 

But  how  explain 
Our  being  so  diverse,  we  see  alike? 

WARING 

The  pow'r  that  makes  it,  not  the  hindrance! 


HARDY 

I  see! 

WARING 

'Tis  by  our  union  that  we  know ! 
The  pow'r  exists  within  ourselves,  and  not 
In  Nature !     Chance  might  have  discovered  it ! 
[Weird  music] 

HARDY 

Oft  have  I  wondered  how  in  some  far  age 
The  Race  would  know  what  Nature  is  I     I  did 
Not  dream  it  would  occur  in  me! 

WARING 

Nor  I 
In  me !     'Tis  in  the  union  of  our  type ! 
[Weird  music  continues] 
[8] 


Ah! 


THE  UNVEILING 


HARDY 

So  simple? 

WARING 

Yes;  as  when  the  first  ape-man 
Descended  from  the  tree ! 

HARDY 

Or  joined  a  sound 
On  to  a  thing ! 

WARING 

Or  clothed  his  back 
With  skins! 

HARDY 

Or  took  some  step  in  human  progress, 
No  matter  what ! 

WARING 

We,  representing  all 
The  Race  in  type,  now  make  it  one  in  end 
And  aim !    Let  us  invoke  the  hidden  life 
As  symboled  in  these  silent  statues ! 

[They    clasp    hands.     Weird    music 
swells  out] 

Hear, 
O  spirit  of  Divinity,  ensouled 
Within  these  forms  of  marble,  hear  our  cries 
For  knowledge,  light!    Reveal  what  Nature  is; 

[9] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Make  us  aware  of  what  we  are ;  tell  us 

From  whence  we  came,  and  whither  go — The  Why 

And  Wherefore  of  existence,  speak,  O  Gods! 

And  for  this  favor  we  do  pledge  a  life 

Of  service  to  thy  calling ! 

[Weird    music    is    terrifying.     The 
statues  stand  living  Gods] 

HARDY 

[Cowers  and  screams] 

Ah!    Ah!    Ah! 

WARING 

Behold!    A  miracle!    A  miracle! 

[The  statues  step  down  and  approach 
Hardy  and  Waring] 

ORMAZD 

Mortals,  your  prayers  have  met  with  favor!     Lo, 

Prepare  to  meet  your  chosen  destiny ! 

[Ahriman  raises  his  arms  and  all  is 
dark.  Weird  music  continues  with 
rushing  wind  and  mysterious  sounds] 

Scene  II:  The  curtains  at  the  hack  part  and  dis- 
close Washington,  D.  C,  in  the  distance.  To  the 
left  in  front  of  the  Capitol  is  a  crowd  of  miniature  men 
dressed  in  black;  to  the  right  a  similar  crowd  in  light. 
As  the  characters  speak  on  the  stage  the  figures  move 
accordingly. 

[10] 


THE  UNVEILING 


ORMAZD 

Mortals,  the  common  lot  of  Man  now  see, 
And  seeing  choose,  your  freedom  being  this: 
To  turn  the  trend  of  energy  to  Good 
Or  Bad,  a  power  so  sHght  that  naked  eye 
Cannot  detect  the  increment  deciding, 
Yet  not  unfair;  for,  in  the  eyes  of  All, 
The  thing  that  weighs  is  principle,  not  deeds ! 

AHRIMAN 

Mortals,  choose  well,  choose  sure,  remembering 
That  which  you  gain  you  have,  can  clasp !     Do  not 
Forsake  yourselves  for  greater  things!     Hold  firm 
To  common  sense,  accept  naught  but  the  real — 
The  toys  of  touch,  of  taste,  of  smell  and  eye! 
For  self -development,  and  not  self-sacrifice 
Should  be  your  choice!     So  speaks  the  world  of 

science, 
Philosophy !    All  Art  is  likewise  motived ; 
And  all  successful  living !     So  be  wise ! 

WARING 

[To  Hardy] 
It  is  quite  simple  after  all? 

HARDY 

No!    No! 

ORMAZD 

Spread  out  before  you  is  the  world  in  all 

Its  glory !    There  behold  yourselves  in  vision ! 

[II] 


THE  UNVEILING 


When  near  the  Capitol  designing  men, 

Appearing  undesigning,  take  your  hand 

In  welcome  overdone ;  while  there,  beyond, 

Are  other  men  open  and  innocent ! 

The  first  are  of  the  world,  suspecting,  bold, 

Audacious,  cunning,  cruel,  and  successful, — 

These  fear,  mistrust,  avoid!    The  other  men 

Are  uninviting  when  looked  at  with  the  eye 

Of  sense  alone !    Let  not  appearances 

Trick  you !    For  Nature,  seen  by  partial  glances, 

A  struggle  for  existence  seems;  when  looked 

At  with  the  eye  of  Hope,  the  Mind  of  Faith, 

It  is  a  triumph  of  the  Good,  the  True, 

The  Beautiful!    Like  sunshine,  which  produces 

The  life  of  Nature  silently,  the  victories 

Of  Good  form  not  the  annals  of  the  day. 

Are  met  with  unconcealed  indignity 

Instead;  and  yet  the  mockers  are  out  jested, 

For,  when  all's  weighed,  the  busy  work  of  life 

Is  froth  upon  the  river  of  existence ! 

I  cannot  promise  you  a  sure  success. 
But  that  escape  from  failure  which  ensues. 
In  spite  of  all,  if  you  do  not  elect 
The  proper  path  in  Hfe !    And,  if  you  choose 
Aright,  there  is  no  failure;  for,  amidst 
The  haps  of  Chance,  'tis  purposed  that  success 
And  failure  lie  in  what  we  are,  and  not 
In  what  we  do !    So,  if  you  choose  aright, 
You  win,  no  matter  what  becomes  of  you! 

[12] 


THE  UNVEILING 


But,  if  your  choice  is  ill,  however  great 
Success  you  gain,  you  meet  with  failure!    So, 
Howe'er  misjudged,  I  conjure  you,  admire. 
Love,  imitate,  and  choose  the  Light! — And  Think! 

AHRIMAN 

Nay,  hear  me  first!    The  Dark  are  strong,  and 

brave, 
Adventurous;  beloved  alike  by  men 
And  women!    Theirs  a  life  of  fullness;  while, 
As  all  admit,  the  others  never  venture  far 
Enough  aside  the  path  to  know  just  what 
Things  are !    The  world  up  till  to-day  has  lived 
In  dreams !    You  know  that  which  you  are  is  due 
To  Nature!    Life's  a  contract  which  explains 
Itself  the  way  it  has  been  carried  out; 
And  no  amount  of  Revelation,  good  or  bad, 
Should  ever  blind  your  eyes  to  what  you  see ! 
And  what  you  find,  should  be  your  guide  in  life; 
For  Nature  is  the  only  true  expression 
Of  what  things  are !     Let  Nature  be  your  guide 
In  principle;  you  its  complete  director 
In  all !    The  partnership  thus  formed  will  bring 
You  everything,  if  you  attend  to  business! 

ORMAZD 

Be  sure  your  view  comprises  all  of  Nature — 
The  hidden  soul  of  Man ;  the  depths  of  Space ; 
The  scope  of  Time!    Trace  Nature  in  Mankind, 
[I3l 


THE  UNVEILING  ^ 

-i 


Religion,  Love,  in  Selfishness!    See  Good 
Evolve  from  Evil !    Find  the  widest  Plan 
Employing  force,  and  thus  developing 
Another  Plan,  which  in  its  turn,  discovers 
The  Purpose  of  the  whole  which  shows  to  us 
That  human  hopes  are  glimpses  at  the  Cause 
Of  things  which- will  some  day  be  seen,  unclouded. 
In    all    His    wholeness!    Search    throughout    the 

world. 
But  stop  not  till  you  reach  this  higher  goal ! 
Choose!     Match    your    nature    in    the    picture! 

Choose ! 

AHRIMAN 

Your  first  impression  may  not  be  the  best! 
Appearances  may  be  deceptive !    Choose ! 


HARDY 

[Pointing  to  dark  figures] 
I  do  not  like  the  air,  the  somber  looks 
Of  these  mistrustful  men!    Why  friendship  there, 
Instead  of  being  giv'n,  is  bought  with  favor! 

[Pointing  to  light  figures] 
The  others,  like  a  cloud  adrift,  are  fine; 
But  ineffectual!    I  choose  the  first! 

[Weird  music 

In  miniature  he  is  lost  in  the  crowd  of 
dark  men] 

1 14  ] 


THE  UNVEILING 


WARING 

And  I  the  second;  for  despite  their  innocence, 
Their  lives  are  sure,  unworldly  wise,  but  pure 
Of  purpose !     The  butts  of  sacrifice  or  not, 
Their  life  is  life  to  me ! 

[Weird  music 

In  miniature  he  goes  to  the  group  of 
light  men.  The  light  and  dark 
figures  mingle  in  conflict.  Out  of 
the  light  group  the  figure  of  Dr, 
Andrews  goes  towards  the  Capitol. 
Weird  music  reaches  a  climax. 
Ahriman  lifts  his  arms  and  the 
scene  disappears  in  darkness  and 
the  curtains  close.  Lights  come  on 
faintly] 

ORMAZD 

Your  choices  made, 
You  now  must  part  forever ! 

HARDY 

We  pledged  ourselves 
To  study  Nature  in  its  hidden  forms! 

WARING 

To  join 
Together  what  we  are  in  one  supreme 
Endeavor,  thus  to  understand  the  heart 
Of  things!    You  Gods  have  battled  always,  now 

[15] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Why  can  you  not  become  as  one  of  us, 
And  through  the  night  and  day  of  living  write 
For  us  in  fact  what  Nature  is?    Since  Time 
Began  stood  you  aloof!     Come,  join  our  life, 
Our  studies,  struggles,  not  as  Gods,  but  men; 
Show  us  the  worth  of  what  you  are !     Defend 
Your  names  'gainst  being  deaf  to  endless  prayers, 
Unfriendly  to  mankind  except  a  few ! 
Clear  up  the  maze  of  legend  and  tradition, 
Of  Scripture,  myth;  and  let  us  have  the  Truth; 
That  statement  of  the  facts  which  will  outlive 
All  Time! 

HARDY 

And  teach  us  how  to  cope  with  Nature ; 
To  use  the  elements  the  one  true  way ! 
Rid  us  of  fear ;  the  dread  of  pain ;  and  tell 
Us  what  we  may  expect  within  the  room 
That  knows  no  exit !     Give  us  peace  of  mind ; 
Drive  out  old  Want ;  grant  us  a  standing-place 
Upon  the  Earth  that  will  not  give ! 

AHRIMAN 

Ha!  Ha! 
They  would  become  as  Gods ! 

ORMAZD 

That  will  occur ! 
So  much  to  them!    Nothing  to  us! 
[I6] 


THE  UNVEILING 


AHRIMAN 

I  hoped 
Another  age  would  pass  ere  Man  would  seek 
The  light,  prefer  to  serve  in  darkness,  blind 
By  choice !    But  this  is  once  surprise  awaits  me ! 

ORMAZD 

How  best  can  we  assist  these  seeking  mortals? 
Attend  them  in  their  daily  life,  stand  by. 
Instruct,  inspire  wherein  their  teachers  fail; 
And  see  them  carry  out  their  choice  in  life — 
In  love,  in  lore,  in  labor  in  the  world; 
And  that  their  prayers  may  be  fulfilled,  help  them 
Be  rid  of  trammels,  customs,  ruts 


AHRIMAN 

[Not  desiring  it] 


And  make 


Them  free  in  living! 


ORMAZD 

Not  only  them  but  all 
The  world  they  come  in  contact  with  shall  profit. 

HARDY 

[To  Waring] 
What  shall  we  first  attain?    We  would  know  all! 

AHRIMAN 

Mortals,  with  this  first  vision  of  the  world 
Denied  to  other  beings,  you,  perhaps, 
[17  1 


THE  UNVEILING 


Now  think  there  is  some  magic  way  to  knowledge ! 
As  mortals  you  began,  so  must  you  end ! 

ORMAZD 

Before  we  enter  on  our  quest  of  Truth, 
There  is  one  hostage,  we  require!     Nay,  two! 
But  one  in  purpose !     Mental  honesty. 
And  moral  courage !     Fair  to  know  the  Truth, 
And  brave  to  speak  it! 

AHRIMAN 

[Sorrowfully] 

This  is  the  coming  Man! 

BOTH 

[Weird  music] 
We  pledge  ourselves  to  this  high  calling ! 

ORMAZD 

'Tiswell! 

AHRIMAN 

[Doubtfully] 
Perhaps ! 

ORMAZD 

Let's  show  these  seeking  mortals, 
Since  first  adventurous  atoms  married. 
We  Gods  have  always  been  in  opposition 
So  planets  might  exist  for  Life  and  Mind; 
That  evolution  might  become  a  fact, 
The  acme  of  creation  other  than 
[I8] 


THE  UNVEILING 


A  possibility !     Let  us  explain 
To  them  and  to  their  little  world  of  thought 
The  meaning  of  the  words  that  now  obscure 
Their  view  of  Nature,  making  them  prefer 
An  empty  dream  to  actual  life ! 

AHRIMAN 

[Fearfully] 

Thus  take 
Another  step  in  living? 

ORMAZD 

Yes !  Unveil 
[Weird  music] 
The  face  of  Nature,  teach  them  how  to  see 
Reality! 

[There  is  a  tremendous  burst  of  music ^ 
full  of  joy,  yet  weirdness,  and  the 
lights  shine  about  them  as  a  kind  of 
transfiguration.  When  the  music 
stops t  Ahriman  lifts  his  arms  and 
there  is  sudden  darkness] 

Scene  III.  All  the  hangings  fold,  showing  in 
front  on  each  side  of  the  stage  loggias  leading  into 
college  buildings,  but  arranged  as  open  recitation 
rooms.  A  curtain  presenting  a  college  campus  scene 
is  dropped  between  entrances  two  and  three.  Lights 
appear  in  the  loggia  at  the  left  where  Dr.  Hawtry  is 

I191 


THE  UNVEILING 


assembling  a  class.  Ormazd,  Ahriman,  Hardy ^ 
Waring,  and  others  are  discovered.  Students  stroll 
across  the  stage.  Lights  dreamlike.  Music  weird 
but  romantic. 

HARDY 

Your  statement  is  too  trite.     Why  we  could  read 
As  much  in  any  scientific  book ! 
We  want  to  know  the  Truth ! 

[Ormazd  lifts  his  arms  and  there  is  an 
added  light] 

WARING 

Just  what  things  are! 

HAWTRY 

Young  gentlemen,  don't  speak  so  loud,  I  pray! 
The  most  explosive  thing  in  all  the  world 
Is  knowledge!     Shh! 

[Music  full   of  fear.     Lights   waver. 

He   goes   back   in   the   loggia   and 

listens  at  a  door] 

ORMAZD 

No  wonder  that  Mankind 


Is  ignorant! 


[Ormazd  lifts  his  arms  and  there  is 
an  added  light.     Music  weird] 

[20] 


THE  UNVEILING 


AHRIMAN 

The  wonder  is,  I  think, 
So  lucrative  is  Error,  that  Mankind 
Knows  anything! 

HAWTRY 

I  seem  elated,  free! 
My  whole  life  through,  I've  had  one  bare  to  couch 
My  thought  in  unsuspected  words ;  to  speak 
The  Truth  so  Orthodoxy,  lying  await, 
Could    not    uptrip    me.     Now,    I'm    free!  Free! 

Free! 
How  poor  is  language  made  to  hide  the  Truth, 
When  used  to  speak  it !    Ah  I    Time  was  I  feared 
I  should  express  too  much,  but  now  alas! 
My  soul  trained  in  hypocrisy  is  dumb ! 
[Gives  way  to  feelings] 

HARDY 

[To  Ahriman] 
We  hold  you  to  your  promise ! 


HAWTRY 


WARING 


Let  me  go ! 


[To  Ormazd] 
We  ask  your  help !    Show  us  the  way !    If  one 

[21] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Cannot  vouchsafe  the  Truth,  why  we  demand 

Another. 

[Ormazd  lifts  his  arms  and  there  is  an 
increase  of  light  and  the  music  takes 
on  a  more  joyous  tone.  Dr.  An- 
drews enters  from  the  loggia  with 
several  students.  The  Fool,  fol- 
lowed by  the  Skulls,  enters  from  the 
left  first  entrance] 

HARDY 

[To  Ormazd] 
If  he  does  not  succeed,  then  we 
Exact  of  you  to  lift  the  veil  of  Nature ! 


FOOL 

[As  if  only  partly  aroused] 


What? 


WARING 

[Paying  no  attention  to  Fool] 
What  use  are  Gods  if  not  to  make  the  scheme 
Of  things  as  simple  as  that  two  plus  two 
Are  four! 

FOOL 

Desist!    What  would  you  do? 

WARING 

Explain 
The  secrets  of  the  Universe ! 

l22] 


THE  UNVEILING 


FOOL 

Ha!    Ha! 
They  are  unknowable! 

WARING 

[To  Ormazd] 

Your  promise,  Sire! 

ORMAZD 

[Motioning  Hawtry  away  and  Andrews 
to  the  chair] 
Attend!    Proceed! 

ANDREWS 

The  first  to  understand 
Is  Man, — likewise  the  last!    Each  study  adds 
A  light  to  all,  while  any  one  pursued 
Too  closely  ends  in  darkness.     The  general  view 
Makes  whole  illuminate  the  part.     The  time 
Will  come  on  Earth  when  all  will  be  revealed 
By  each  and  each  by  all  in  unity! 

Man  differs  from  the  animal.     The  brute 
Opposes  Nature;  Man  controls  it.     Man 
Creates  his  own  environment ;  his  brother 
Is  made  by  it  through  struggle  and  resistance; 
Accommodates  himself  to  things ;  becomes 
Extinct  if  he  meet  failure  once!    But  Man, 
The  end  and  aim  of  Nature  here  on  Earth, 
Becomes  another  Nature  using  Nature 
To  build  a  world  to  suit  his  God-like  self, 
[23l 


THE  UNVEILING 


And  Nature-like,  opposes  joy  with  woe 

In  spite  of  all  that  he  can  do !     'Tis  sad 

For  in  this  one  experiment  in  life, 

Evil,  as  a  by-product  of  the  Good, 

Slips  in;  and  then  the  first  misfortune  grows! 

Man's  predilection  for  what  he  creates — 

His  hobbies,  institutions  and  beliefs — 

Becomes  a  second  Nature,  makes  him  miss 

The  pith  of  living ;  for  it  abrogates 

All  else,  resulting  in  a  world  of  parasites, 

Who  supersede  what  Nature  has  attained 

By  crowding  on  to  youth  a  knowledge-bag 

To  last  for  Hf e !    You  might  as  well  try  eat 

Enough  by  twenty-one  that  in  the  years 

To  come  you  could  forego  all  further  food ! 

Once  let  these  doctors  fill  the  bag,  your  brain, 

Then  afterward  you  see  the  whole  of  life 

With  artificial  head,  and  not  the  one 

That  Nature  makes  for  all  her  other  creatures ! 

Know  then  that  Man  is  youthful  in  self-guidance. 
Should  not  exult  so  sure  of  having  found 
The  way !     When  he  was  certain  once  before, 
A  way  proclaimed  as  God's,  'twas  then  he  failed 
Outright,  attested  by  the  Age  of  Faith, 
The  night  in  which  the  treasures  of  the  Race 
Were  lost ;  for  then  it  was  Mankind  preferred 
The  vision  of  a  saint  to  all  the  Art, 
And  thought  of  Greece,  the  law  of  Rome — the  kind 
Of  life  we  strive  to  realize  to-day! 

[24] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Let  us  beware!     Who  knows?     Our  glory  yet 
May  end  in  shame ;  Nature  cannot  be  thwarted ; 
But  Man  can  go  astray,  and  illustrate 
The  tragedy  of  living! 

FOOL 

'Tis  heresy 
Upon  its  face ! 

[Music  discordant.  Lights  waver. 
Skulls  crowd  about  him] 

HARDY 

Let  him  conclude ! 

ORMAZD 

Peace!    Peace! 

HARDY 

Be  more  explicit !    Speak  in  language  all 

Can  understand! 

[Ormazd  raises  his  arms  and  there  is 
more  light.  Ahriman  steps  hack 
that  his  egging  on  of  the  Fool  may 
not  be  seen] 


Of  things! 


WARING 

We  wish  to  know  the  heart 

[25  1 


THE  UNVEILING 


FOOL 

He  does  not  speak  for  me! 

SKULLS 

Nor  us ! 

FOOL 

He  robs  us  of  all  hope ! 

HARDY 

Gives  you  the  Truth 
Instead !    A  fair  exchange ! 

FOOL 

'Twould  be  if  true ; 
But  Truth  with  you  means  lies  to  us ! 

SKULLS 

Aye !    Aye ! 

[Ahriman  tries  to  agitate  the  Fool,  but 
to  keep  the  others  from  seeing  him. 
Music  is  weird] 

HARDY 

The  Truth  is  axiomatic 

FOOL 

No!    No! 

SKULLS 

No! 

I26] 


THE  UNVEILING 


HARDY 

And  proves  itself  if  properly  expressed ! 


ORMAZD 

Peace !     Peace !     How  can  the  Truth  hurt  anyone  ? 
[Music    beautiful.     Lights  bright  but 
unnatural] 

ANDREWS 

If  you  attend  you  shall  be  satisfied ! 

Science  knows  nothing  of  the  Beautiful; 

As  little  of  artistic  form.     It  seeks 

Utility  and  Truth.     It  bases  all 

Upon  reality.     You  see  the  star 

Whirl  in  the  endless  deep  so  far  away, — 

A  Solar  System  seems  a  point !    You  watch 

The  planets  and  the  asteroids  revolve 

About  the  central  Sun!    The  satellites 

In  mimic  flight  forever  try  to  clasp 

The  mother  planet  as,  disdainfully. 

She  says:     "Make  of  yourself  a  world!"     This 

pageant 
Is  Nature  in  its  forms  colossal,  grand! 
The  atoms  in  this  piece  of  chalk  act  so; 
Are  whirling  points,  poised  firmly  as  fixed  sohds; 
Yet  could  the  eye  in  some  mysterious  way 
Discern  their  mechanism,  it  too  would  be 
A  Solar  System  infinitely  small ! 
(271 


THE  UNVEILING 


All  Nature  is  one  thing,  one  plan,  one  type! 
I  hold  a  Universe  within  my  hand! 

Now,  if  the  atom  is  the  primal  fount 
Whence  flows  all  energy;  we  must  reform 
Our  concept  of  the  scheme  of  things  to  match 
The  facts.     All  matter  seemingly  attracts; 
But  it  is  only  in  appearance.     The  Law 
Of  Gravitation  is  a  formula 
That  shows  how  matter  is  distributed 
Through  Space.     'Tis  similar  to  angles,  points, 
And  lines,  which  are  related  by  a  law 
That  never  varies,  yet  are  uncontrolled 
By  any  force.     The  power  that  moves  all  matter 
Is  centered  in  the  atoms,  not  the  mass ; 
And  they,  instead  of  acting  from  afar, 
Are  centers  of  contending  energies. 
Which  hold  them  in  their  places,  in  their  forms, 
Until  the  process  Nature  is  producing 
Attains  its  end!    The  final  clash  of  worlds, 
Which  terminates  each  system,  forces  out 
The  atom  from  the  center  to  the  rim. 
Thence  it  is  falling  to  the  central  Sun; 
Not  like  the  rays  of  light  straight  to  the  point 
So  swift  that  Time  can  scarcely  note,  or  Space 
Accommodate ;  but  as  the  boomerang 
A  trillion  years  in  spiral  flight ; 
Thus  giving  Nature  all  the  time  it  needs 
To  wind  up  life  from  atom  on  to  Man, 
The  spiral  growing  less  until  occurs 
[28] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Again  the  one  supreme  catastrophe 
That  ends  all  in  atomic  mist ;  and  then 
Begins  another  system,  Phoenix-like, 
Out  of  the  ashes  of  the  old,  the  same 
Occurring  o'er  and  o'er  and  everywhere 
Throughout  the  depths  of  Space  immeasurable, 
Through  distant  aeons  only  seen  in  vision; 
Or  through  a  science  yet  to  come ! 


HARDY 

'Tis  grand! 


FOOL 

More  like  sheer  nonsense ! 

SKULLS 

Aye !     Aye !     Aye  I 
FOOL 

But  what 
Of  Newton's  law,  the  wonder  of  the  world? 

[Skulls  approve  the  question .     A  hriman 
eggs  them  on] 

ANDREWS 

The  Ptolemaic  system  once  again, 

A  backward  reading  of  the  facts  of  Nature! 

The  atom  ring  flies  to  the  central  Sun, 

[291 


THE  UNVEILING 


Not  by  attraction,  but  by  spiral  flight, 
With  coping  forces  balanced  as  a  sail. 
Taking  a  trillion  years  to  reach  its  port ! 

Because  the  bodies  of  the  Universe 
Sustain  exact  relations  does  not  prove 
That  energy  binds  them  together,  no  more 
Than  energy  keeps  them  apart.     In  fact 
The  force  we  see  in  comet  darting  past 
The  Earth  is  force  repellent,  not  attractive ! 

It  stands  to  reason  that  the  orbs  of  space 
Would  have  some  way  to  keep  themselves  from 

harm; 
Repellent  force  is  this  defensive  war! 
The  proper  motion  of  the  stars  is  fixed 
By  radiant  energy.     Each  one  pursues 
Its  destined  course  in  Space,  taking  the  line 
Of  least  resistance  as  its  general  law. 
And  never  interfering  with  a  neighbor. 
Throughout  Space  infinite,  unending  Time ! 

Nature  is  mathematical ;  that  is  all ! 

[Music  discordant.     Lights  darken] 

FOOL 

1  call  a  halt! 

HARDY 

Why  thought  is  free  in  all 
The  lower  sciences ! 

[30] 


THE  UNVEILING 


FOOL 

Yes;  but  what  I  fear 
Is  that  it  be  extended  to  the  whole 
Of  life! 

SKULLS 

Aye !     Aye ! 

HARDY 

You  should  not  judge  a  man 
Until  you've  heard  him! 

WARING 

Give  Truth  a  chance ! 

FOOL 

Enough ! 

ANDREWS 

[To  Fool] 
A  biased  judgment  makes  a  man  condemn 
The  thing  he  should  uphold,  and  praise  the  thing 
He  shotdd  condemn;  thus  he  becomes  his  own 
Worst  enemy,  a  mental  suicide! 
[To  the  Students] 
Resolve  the  Universe  into  its  parts : 
We  find  two  forces — radiant  that  throws 
All  matter  out ;  its  opposite  that  brings 
It  back!    They  run  throughout  the  Universe! 
[31] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Nature's  a  repetition  of  itself! 
One  force  repeats  the  body,  while  the  other 
Alters  it.     All  that  each  one  accomplishes 
Is  to  repeat  itself,  the  one  within 
The  other ;  the  double  repetition  makes 
All  movement,  and  all  fixity  as  well: 
For  when  the  forces  equalize,  the  form 
Becomes  a  moving  balance  as  is  seen 
By  all  in  things  diverse  and  unallied 
As  Solar  Systems,  Life,  Society; 
And  yet  each  form  is  held  alike !     We  find 
The  One  is  mother  to  the  Many !     Kinship 
In  law  and  substance.  Time  and  Space,  produce 
The  same  results  throughout  the  Universe ! 
Things  vary  with  the  process  of  the  form. 
We  note  a  stone  forever  is  a  stone. 
The  outside  energy  repeats  itself, 
But  cannot  change  the  inner  repetition! 
Not  so  the  plastic  forms  of  higher  life! 
They  vary  as  the  form  develops  upward ; 
Are  pelted  into  shape  by  outside  forces ; 
And  when  they  reach  Humanity,  control 
The  outside  and  the  inner  forces,  make 
Them  follow  lines  of  pure  economy; 
And  thus  attain  perfection! 

FOOL 

Absurd  as  Chance ! 
'Tis  false! 

[32] 


THE  UNVEILING 


SKULLS 

'Tis  more  than  false ! 

HARDY 

It  seems 
To  me  to  be  the  Truth !     If  there  be  aught 
But  matter  and  its  forms,  I've  studied  Nature 
To  no  purpose ! 

WARING 

But  you  have  only  heard 
The  physical!     Each  mind  surveys  the  world 
And  from  its  ken  pronounces  on  the  whole ! 
Let  us  attend  another  chair.     My  views 
May  find  expression,  for  I  hold  the  Truth 
Cannot  be  bounded  by  the  physical ! 

[A  recitation  hell  rings.  Lights  go  out 
in  the  loggia.  Dr,  Andrews  goes  in. 
Music  weird,  hut  heautiful.  Stu- 
dents come  down  the  steps  prepara- 
tory to  leaving] 

AHRIMAN 

*Tis  so  the  smug  would  teach  its  lesson!     Ha! 
I  know  a  better  way  and  would  observe  it! 
Stay!    Bolt  this  class  for  one  of  mine !    Ha!  Ha! 
[The  center  of  the  stage  hecomes  light. 
Students  of  hoth  sexes  cross  and  re- 
cross.     The  class  lingers  about  Ahri- 
3  [33] 


THE  UNVEILING 


man  and  Ormazd.    Waring  and  Fool 
remain,  hut  Hardy  goes  up  stage] 

MISS  SELWYN 

[At  the  back  of  stage] 
*Tis  good  to  meet  you,  Mr.  Hardy! 

HARDY 

Thanks! 
For  once  the  wish  and  fact  are  found  together! 

[They  stand  and  talk,  forming  a 
picture.  Ahriman  and  Waring 
stand  apart.  The  class  is  farther 
down  the  stage  to  the  left.  Ahriman 
puts  his  arm  on  Waring' s  shoulder, 
andy  as  a  kind  of  object  lesson  ^ 
points  to  Miss  Selwyn  and  Hardy. 
The  students  are  spectators.  The 
music  is  weird  and  dreamlike. 
Lightsfaint] 

AHRIMAN 

Mayhap  this  lesson  is  outside  the  course ! 
We  must  take  lessons  as  they  come.     You  see 
Her  look ;  and  note  the  sweetness  of  her  voice 
So  uncalled  for!     If  words  were  worth  so  much, 
And  she  were  held  to  only  ten,  forsooth, 

She  would  not  make  more  of  them!    This  is 

[34] 


THE  UNVEILING 


WARING 

Love? 


AHRIMAN 

Ha!  Ha!    Woman! 


In  woman! 


ORMAZD 

Nay,  Nature! 

AHRIMAN 

Best  expressed 


WARING 

But,  why  not  say  love? 

AHRIMAN 

[To  Waring  in  a  low  tone] 

Say  love? 
She  loves  him  not !     I  saw  her  eyes  on  you  ; 
And  in  a  glance,  they  told  me  it  was  you 
She  loves! 

[MiLsic  full  of  sweetness  J  but  weird] 

WARING 

If  so — I  cannot  think — you  say 
She  loves  me!     Me?     It  can't  be  so!     My  heart 
Is  leaping  from  my  breast !    But  something  bids 
Me  question  what  you  say !    Forgive  me,  Sire, 
I  do  not  understand,  explain,  explain! 
I  35  1 


THE  UNVEILING 


AHRIMAN 

[Whispers  to  Waring] 
You  are  the  atom  trembling  to  embrace 
Before  you  sacrifice  yourself  in  yielding ! 
'Tis  all  there  is  of  human  liberty! 

WARING 

If  SO,  I'll  see  the  drama  to  the  end! 

AHRIMAN 

And  so  will  I ! 

[Waring  goes  to  Hardy  and  Miss 
Selwyn,  meeting  Miss  Denham. 
Ahriman  comes  down  stage  meeting 
Ormazd] 

ORMAZD 

Let  us  provide  a  scene 
To  please  the  eye,  the  lesson  then  will  be 
The  better! 

AHRIMAN 

If  not  better,  bitter!    Ha! 
[Weird  music] 
Now,  Fool,  you  listen,  for  who  knows  for  sure 
What  teaching  you  may  have  to  do  in  life ! 

FOOL 

I'd  rather  be  self-taught  than  your  disciple ! 

[Ahriman  lifts  his  arms  and  all  is  dark. 

[36] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Weird  music.     In  the  distance  is 
heard  a  college  yell,  ghostlike] 

STUDENTS 

Blair!    Blair!    Blair! 

Where!    Where!     Where! 

There!     There!     There! 
On  the  top  and  on  the  stair !     Men  of  Blair ! 
Going  up  everywhere!     Everywhere! 

Hurrah !     Hurrah !     Hurrah ! 

Blair!    Blair!    Blair! 

Scene  IV:  The  front  of  the  stage  remains  the 
same,  but  the  curtain  at  the  hack  rises,  and  shows  a 
sorority  house  backed  by  a  curtain  which  when  lighted 
represents  a  night  scene.  Around  the  house  is  a 
balcony,  with  a  stairway  leading  to  a  similar  balcony 
on  the  second  story.  A s  the  center  of  the  stage  lightens, 
Miss  Selwyn  seats  herself  on  a  rustic  bench.  Hardy 
at  her  side.  Down  the  stage  to  the  right  are  Waring 
and  Miss  Denham  sitting  on  another  rustic  bench 
reading  a  book.  Dr.  Hawtry,  Ormazd,  Ahriman, 
Fool,  Skulls,  and  students  are  spectators.  There  is 
some  light  about  each  couple,  and  as  the  characters 
speak,  it  increases.     The  lights  and  music  dreamlike. 

WARING 

[Lowering  his  book] 


There  is  no  poetry  to-day ! 
[37  1 


THE  UNVEILING 


MISS  DENHAM 

The  words 
Of  early  Man  alone  are  such,  and  such 
His  Hfe! 

WARING 

I  think  that  poetry  requires 
A  view  of  Nature  quite  outgrown! 

MISS  DENHAM 

And  yet, 
Sometimes,  I  dream  that  could  we  only  throw 
Aside  the  thousand  things  which  go  to  make 
Up  life,  yet  form  no  part  of  it — the  prose 
Of  living  little  actions,  all  that  Art 
Neglects  in  its  supreme  expression — life 
Would  be  poetic! 

WARING 

If  you'd  unveil  the  face 
Of  Beauty,  Life  would  be  a  poem! 

MISS  DENHAM 

[Dreamily] 

Ah!    Yes! 

[Light  appears  about  Ahriman,  Or- 
mazd,  and  the  students.  Music 
dreamlike.  Ormazd  and  Ahriman 
use  the  couples  as  object  lessons] 

[38 1 


THE  UNVEILING 


AHRIMAN 
[Pointing  at  Waring] 
Poor  fool!    Could  he  but  see  beneath  her  words, 
He  would  find  love  rebelling  in  her  heart, 
Because  denied  a  hearing,  save  as  stolen! 
No  one  except  Divinity  can  read 
Love's  ruses,  lovers  being  quite  oblivious 
Of  them! 

ORMAZD 

[To  class 

Music  modulates  into  discord] 
If  love  were  not  a  mystery, 
The  sexes  could  not  meet  except  to  blush 
How  Nature  treated  them!     But  love  to-day 
Becomes  a  thousand  things  save  what  is  love — 
All  beautiful,  all  sweet,  all  good,  all  pure; 
So  never  understood  until,  Hke  Death, 
Too  late;  and  then  the  comedy,  to  all 
But  victims,  is  a  tragedy! 

FOOL 

Nay !    Nay ! 
Love  is  the  song  of  living  sung  by  Youth ! 
It  is  the  only  story  Man  will  read ! 
It  is  as  sacred  as  the  breath  of  life! 

AHRIMAN 

Peace!    After  seeing  all  of  life,  then  speak. 
For  Truth  is  rudeness  to  the  ignorant ! 
l39l 


THE  UNVEILING 


[Ormazd  raises  his  arms,  and  there  is 
additional  light  about  Miss  Selwyn 
and  Hardy.  Everything  is  dream- 
like.    Music  discordant] 

ORMAZD 

Love  is  the  primal  binding  force  of  Nature! 

I  will  explain  the  scene  for  you.     Observe, 

In  passing  her  a  flow'r,  he  gently  lets 

His  vagrant  fingers  press  an  airy  kiss 

Upon  her  unsuspecting  hand — that's  love! 

His  eyes,  two  guilty  consciences,  express 

The  truth  his  lips  dissemble,  that  is  love! 

'Tis  so  that  love  entwines  the  halves  of  life 

Making  them  one !     The  sweetest  thing  in  all 

The  world  of  sweets !    All  beautiful  when  looked 

At  with  the  eyes  of  j^outh  [warningly]  yet  sacrificing, 

The  individual  to  social  purpose!     Is 

There  aught  that's  beautiful  in  feeding  kine? 

In  flowers  licking  up  the  watered  soil? 

The  last  is  marriage  of  the  elements 

Accomplished  by  the  kissing  of  the  Sun! 

The  other  is  the  ravishment  of  plant 

By  animal,  in  which  the  lover  truly  eats 

The  loved !     These  ugly  facts  are  Nature's  way 

Of  joining  its  divided  halves,  which  toil 

To  work  out  stately  Evolution's  purpose 

From  atom  on  to  Man,  Religion  being 

The  ultimate  uniting  Pow'r  which  joins 

[40] 


THE  UNVEILING 


The  static  and  dynamic  elements 

Of  nations,  not  in  peace  to-day,  instead, 

In  anarch  war.     For  Nature  will  unite 

Its  parts  in  loving  peace  if  possible: 

If  not,  then  anyway  by  force,  or  fraud; 

So  that  the  great  and  greater  may  be  born 

In  this  uniting  of  the  sundered  parts 

That  were  divided,  so  a  wider  touch 

With  Nature  might  take  place ;  so  that  the  stream 

Of  Life  might  fit  its  bed,  and  upward  flow 

Until  it  reach  a  perfect  unity ! 

The  Law  of  Repetition  is  the  Law 

Of  Nature,  Life,  of  Mind,  Society! 

Some  day  Mankind  will  see  the  key  of  love 

Unlock  the  Universe! 

FOOL 

All  nonsense,  all! 

AHRIMAN 

It  takes  a  fool  to  teach  a  fool ! 

ORMAZD 

Let  us 
Attend  their  prayer  one  further  step !    Observe ! 

[Ahriman  lifts  his  arms  and  it  is  dark 
about  the  class,  but  light  appears 
about  Miss  Selwyn  and  Hardy.  It 
is  not  so  light  about  Miss  Denham 


THE  UNVEILING 


and     Waring.     The    students    are 
spectators  to  the  scene] 

MISS  SELWYN 

Why  argue  further  now?     I  don't  believe 
In  love ! 

HARDY 

I  will  convince  you  with  a  story ! 
Recall  some  mighty  deed,  heroic,  grand ; 
And  trace  it  to  its  source, — what  find  you? — Love! 
Some  poem  sublime,  revealing  hidden  beauty; 
Some  work  of  Art  transcending  in  its  scope 
The  loftiest  flight  of  genius  when  inspired ! 
Some  hardship,  sacrifice,  down  to  the  depths 
Of  human  woe;  whence  spring  these  all? — From 
Love! 

MISS  SELWYN 

I'd  rather  have  less  greatness  and  more  service! 
If  I  could  love  a  man,  it  would  be  one 
Who  could  divine  that  moment  in  my  life 
At  which  I  needed  him  the  most ;  not  one 
Ambitious  to  be  great  and  tax  me  for  it ! 
One  standing  by  to  shield  me  from  all  hurts ; 
To  satisfy  my  undisclosed  wish ; 
Some  Httle  thing,  a  flow'r  on  my  desk ; 
A  book  I  loved,  with  leaves  uncut  to  tempt  me ; 
The  tickets  for  a  play  when  least  expected ; 

[42] 


THE  UNVEILING 


His  going  at  the  cloying  moment  when 
Another  sight  of  him  would  mean  revulsion! 
Ah,  such  a  man,  at  least,  would  be  most  rare! 

HARDY 

And  such  a  woman  be  entrancing ! 

MISS  SELWYN 

Ha! 
Ha!  Ha! 

HARDY 

Let  US  be  serious ! 

MISS  SELWYN 

Then,  I'll  cease 


To  talk  of  love! 


HARDY 


Me,  please! 


[Rising,  piqued.     Weird  music] 

Well,  as  you  will!    Excuse 

[Preparing  to  go] 

MISS  SELWYN 

With  pleasure,  sir! 
[They  stand  forming  a  picture,  and 
act  as  if  quarreling.     Lights  brighten 
about  the  class.     Weird  music] 
l43l 


THE  UNVEILING 


FOOL 

[To  Ahriman] 

I  hate  to  see 
This  tiff!    You  are  to  blame,  is  my  beHef ! 
Of  all  the  "cases"  in  the  class,  this  one 
I  liked  the  best !     It  did  not  merit  failure ! 
But  now 

AHRIMAN 

Be  not  alarmed!     Remember,  Fool, 
The  sweetest  love  is  bitter  sugar-coated; 
The  falsest,  true!     You  read  love  backwards,  Fool, 
The  way  that  Nature  teaches  us  to  read 
Its  book,  beginning  at  the  end,  and  then 
Unravel  what  is  written  best  we  can! 
Love  is  a  load  put  on  by  taking  off! 
A  fire  that  burns  when  being  quenched!     A  heat 
Produced  by  cold — Antinomy  itself! 

[The  Fool  stands  dumfounded.  Stage 
lightens  about  Waring  and  Miss 
Denham.  Music  full  of  pain.  Stu- 
dents again  act  as  spectators.  Miss 
Selwyn  and  Hardy  are  pictures  to 
all.    Light  dreamlike] 

MISS  DENHAM 

[Looking  at  the  other  couple] 
A  lover's  quarrel ! 

[441 


THE  UNVEILING 


WARING 

Do  you  think  she  loves — 

MISS  DENHAM 

Loves   him?     Yes!    Why    not?     He   is  rich,   re- 
spected, 
Handsome;  while  she  is  poor,  ambitious;  loves 
The  little  things  of  life;  hates  work;  enjoys 
Pure  idleness;  cares  nothing  for  her  neighbor — 
Excuse  my  frankness — what  I  say  is  said 
In  confidence !     Elizabeth  and  I 
Are  friends — You  know  the  girls  dislike  her  much ! 
She  is  so  popular 

WARING 

You  are  unjust! 

MISS  DENHAM 

Yes!    Yes!    I  did  not  mean  the  half  I  said! 

You  will  forget  it  will  you  not,  my  friend? 

Elizabeth  is  one  of  those  sweet  girls 

Who  suffer  much  from  being  beautiful! 

To  eyes  that  understand  the  privilege 

Accorded  Beauty  as  a  natural  right 

Her  robberies  are  not,  in  fact,  true  thefts, 

But  Beauty's  tribute  levied  lawfully! 

I  knew  you  were  her  friend,  I  did  not  think 


WARING 

That  I— love  her! 

[45  1 


THE  UNVEILING 


MISS  DENHAM 

[Pained  at  his  confession] 
No!     No! 

WARING 

Thanks  for  the  doubt ! 
[The  couples  join  each  other  and  con- 
verse.    Light  shines  about  Ahriman, 
Ormazdy  Fool,  and  others] 

FOOL 

As  fine  a  story  as  experience 

Affords !     They  part  but  only  to  re-pair ! 

Why  don't  you  laugh?     Is  not  such  luck  enough 

To  make  Gods  laugh? 

AHRIMAN 

Love's  funny  when  it's  true  I 


Is  this  not  true? 


FOOL 
AHRIMAN 

As  love,  yes ! 

FOOL 


Is  it  true? 


AHRIMAN 

Love's  never  fair  in  its  exchange !     Its  gold 
Is  counterfeit,  or  dross !    Justice  and  love 

[46] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Are  never  linked!  It  is  a  world  apart 
In  Nature  where  men  prize  hypocrisy 
Above  real  virtue!    Ha!  Ha!  Ha!  Ha!  Ha! 

[Lifts  his  arms,  and  all  is  dark .  Lights 
appear  in  the  loggia  at  the  right. 
Dr.  Andrews  assembles  class  in  soci- 
ology. The  room  is  full  of  students. 
Ahriman  and  Ormazd  act  as  guests. 
Music  weird,  hut  grand] 

ANDREWS 

In  honor  of  our  visitors,  to-day, 

We  shall  discuss  the  greater  truths  of  life 

Instead  of  elementary  work. 

AHRIMAN 

[Bowing 

You  honor  us! 

HARDY 

We  wish  to  know  just  what  you  think  undarked 
By  symbol,  allegory,  faith!    Your  thought 
As  you  yourself  think  it ! 

WARING 

Inform  us  what 
Your  pondering  on  Life's  problems  has  revealed ! 
Express  yourself  regardless  of  the  School, 
The  Church,  the  State,  the  Press,  the  world  at 

large — 
The  plain  unbiased  Truth  is  what  we  want ! 

[47 1 


THE  UNVEILING 


FOOL 
No !     I  protest !     Demand  things  spiritual 
Shall  be  discussed  as  in  the  past! 

SKULLS 

Aye!    Aye! 

HARDY 

[To  Fool] 
You  have  no  part  in  this  I    What  vice  in  Nature 
Gives  you  the  censorship  of  thought? 


AHRIMAN 


He  took 


It  for  the  good  of  Man ! 


FOOL 

The  Truth!    The  Truth! 

WARING 

Wherein 
The  good?     More  like  the  bad ! 

AHRIMAN 

No!    But  for  Fools 
And  Knaves  a  certain  goodness  would  become 
So  fixed  that  all  achievement  would  be  barred ! 
The  Fool  breaks  down  the  barrier  blindly;  while 
The  Knave,  more  like  a  trapped  brute,  is  free 
At  any  cost !     Luther,  good  man,  God  knows, 
Was  helped  to  freedom  by  his  love  y-clept 
Sensual  desire;  while  England's  King,  the  loved 

[48] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Defender  of  the  Faith,  bought  Liberty 
With  Vice! 

FOOL 

I  am  the  measure  of  the  world; 
Fit  me,  you  meet  success!     'Tis  I  who  fight 
The  brainless  wars !     'Tis  I  who  pay  to  see 
The  Moon  re-hung;  to  have  the  stars  foretell 
My  life  and  make  me  drunk  on  words!     I  do 
The  world's  work  for  nothing  but  a  living ! 
You  would  decry  the  fool?     Who  is  the  Fool? 
You  ask.     No  one  inquired  in  Shakespeare's  day; 
They  had  a  player  whom  the  rabble  howled 
To  see;  and  when  the  drama  dragged,  the  Fool 
Came  on!     'Tis  so  to-day  in  everything! 

WARING 

Why  argue,  Fool?    Let  Nature  be  unveiled! 

FOOL 

His  thought  but  darkens  Nature,  not  unveils  it! 

WARING 

Which  shows  enlightenment  conclusively 
Through  yotir  objection ! 

FOOL 

[Pointing  to  Dr.  Andrews] 

If  he  does  not  comply 
With  his  position,  I  object;  that's  all! 

[Lights  dream-like.     Music  beautiful] 

4  [49I 


THE  UNVEILING 


ANDREWS 

This  is  the  Truth:     The  mind  of  Man,  however 

small 
Or  undeveloped,  catches  some  faint  glimpse 
Of  what  the  highest  mind  beholds  completely! 
So  in  theology,  a  classic  once, 
The  first  edition  of  the  Truth,  we  read 
The  story  of  the  Father,  and  believe  it; 
Yet  Science,  with  the  added  light  of  years. 
Knows  that  it  overlooks  the  use  of  Evil, 
And  puts  a  rival  in  the  field  with  God, 
Thus  mooting  questions  that  cannot  be  solved 
Upon  this  premise ! 

FOOL 

Outspoken  heresy! 

HARDY 

How  solve  the  problem.  Fool  ? 

FOOL 

Do  not  propound  it! 

HARDY 

Give  him  no  thought! 

ORMAZD 

Proceed  s 

HARDY 

And  if  the  Fool 
Does  not  keep  quiet,  we  will  put  him  out! 


[50] 


THE  UNVEILING 


FOOL 

You  can't !     I'm  like  the  Earth  on  which  we  stand; 
Humanity  and  I  are  one! 

[Skulls   concur.      Ormazd    raises    his 

arms  and  there  is  more  light.     Music 

profound] 

ANDREWS 

Divinity 
Has  been  defined  as  Spirit  imminent 
In  Nature,  yet  not  Nature!     Invoked  as  Mind — 
A  state  of  nervous  tissue  in  the  brain 
Produced  by  endless  pelting  of  the  forces 
Surrounding  it,  stored  in  evolving  forms! 
While  others  say  there  is  an  Absolute, 
A  perfect  Self  from  whence  all  things  proceed  I 
A  moment's  notice  of  these  theories 
Will  show  that  imperfection  from  Perfection 
Cannot  come,  hence  Perfection  is  the  end, 
And  not  the  means ! 

FOOL 

Hear  all !    I  will  not  stand 
This  heresy! 

ORMAZD 

You  battle  for  the  Old 
Against  the  New !    What  you  prize  most  to-day, 
He  teaches;  yet  because  it  is  not  couched 

[511 


THE  UNVEILING 


In  mental  forms  long  dead,  you  cannot  see 
The  Truth! 

HARDY 

Do  you  know  what  he  means?    No!    No! 

FOOL 

Yes!    Yes! 

[Skulls  concur] 

ORMAZD 

Let  not  the  pious  arrogate 
Perfection  to  themselves !    They  are  Melitus ; 

[Pointing  to  Andrews.    Music  troubled] 
He,  Socrates ;  and  as  Melitus  thought 
He  did  the  world  a  service,  so  think  they! 
The  time  has  come  when  Socrates  must  try 
Melitus !    Speak,  for  you  are  free ! 

FOOL 

No!    No! 
I  will  not  stand  for  heresy ! 

[Music  discordant.    Lights  waver] 

HARDY 

Do  you 
Know  what  he  means?    Answer! 

FOOL 

That's  why  I  now 
Object !     I  am  indignant !     Why  should  I 
Stand  mute  and  see  the  Faith  I  love  with  all 
[52] 


THE  UNVEILING 


My  heart  explained  away  when  I  can  stop 
It  with  a  word? 

HARDY 

Fool,  you  misjudge  your  power! 

FOOL 

Well,  you  shall  see.     I  represent  the  world! 

[Ormazd  raises  his  arms  and  there  is 
added  light] 

ORMAZD 

Peace!    Peace!    The   Truth   has   no   respect   for 

Error! 
Proceed! 

ANDREWS 

We  are  a  part  of  all  somehow 
Self-conscious — 

HARDY 

See!     The  Fool  intimidates  him! 
[Ormazd  raises  his  arms  and  the  Fool 
is  thrown  back] 

ANDREWS 

I  take  the  Jewish  myth  instead  of  Grecian 
Because  you  know  it  best.     Mankind,  as  Nature, 
Is  everywhere  the  same,  goes  through  the  same 
Development!     The  clan,  the  gens,  the  tribe 
Are  everywhere!    The  Roman  priest  was  right; 
l53l 


THE  UNVEILING 


He  saw  his  God  in  every  God  he  found ! 

And  some  day  we  shall  see  the  heart  of  Man 

Is  one;  and  true  Religion  is  the  same 

No  matter  what  it  worships,  where  or  when! 

We  cannot  see  the  plainest  facts  that  speak 

To  us !     The  breast  that  we  would  lay  our  heads 

Upon  is  Man's  not  God's !     Not  that  Mankind 

Should  be  a  God  to  worship  as  of  old 

But  that  through  it,  we  realize  our  prayers, 

Our  hopes,  our  aspirations — all  that  God 

Is  to  us !     Could  Mankind  but  know  that  ere 

The  planet  dies  the  Human  Race  will  act 

As  one  in  its  brave  fight  for  Life  with  Earth's 

Inhospitable  crust;  then  it,  perhaps, 

Would  see  the  folly  of  outlived  beliefs. 

And  hopes,  the  mental  rubbish  of  the  ages! 

Know    this:     The    only  way  that  Life  could 
reach 
Perfection  was  through  Death !     Each  body  hands 
Life  down,  adding  its  increment  of  growth! 
If  Death  did  not  exist,  then  being  would 
Not  rise  above  the  Inorganic  World, 
The    ages    through    the    wide-world    o'er!    Some 

Hand 
Did  guide  our  soul  from  protoplasmic  form 
Up  to  the  birth  of  Reason;  now,  think  you, 
That  in  the  ending  darkness,  you  will  be 
Deserted?     Such  a  crazdd  fate  is  fathered 
By  Supersititon,  not  Enlightenment! 

[54 1 


THE  UNVEILING 


For  Science  teaches  perfect  trust  in  Nature, 

And  not  a  fact,  if  rightly  understood 

Doubts  it !     Life  is  the  transient  interval 

Of  conscious  being  which  all  Nattire  strives 

To  gain,  so  it  may  have  a  Mind  to  see, 

A  Heart  to  feel ;  so  that  which  Nature  took 

A  trillion  years  to  make  with  its  crude  means 

Might  be  accomplished  in  an  hour!     'Tis  proved 

The  Universe  is  nothing  but  a  Plan 

Arranged  so  life  like  ours,  will  some  day  come 

To  all  attendant  planets  of  the  stars! 

God  has  been  so  besmirched  by  those  who  use 

His  name  the  word  when  on  our  lips  makes  us 

Misunderstood !     The  Truth  cannot  be  masked 

In  worn-out  forms  much  longer,  for  Mankind 

With  its  fine  sense  of  Justice  will  demand 

A  reckoning;  and  then  inaugurate 

A  form  of  Life,  based  on  Mankind  and  Nature, 

With  only  that  inherent  need  of  struggle 

Essential  to  existence  and  Perfection ! 

FOOL 

Oh!    Oh!     'Tis  blasphemy!     'Tis  blasphemy! 
He  is  not  teaching  what  our  creed  has  taught  us 
From  childhood  up!     Besides,  if  you  applaud, 
Why,  I  denounce !    This  heresy  must  stop  I 


ANDREWS 

[To  Ormazd] 
Expel  him  from  the  room! 
[55] 


THE  UNVEILING 


FOOL 
[To  Andrews] 

You  triumph  now, 
But  wait!     I'll  rouse  the  Founders,   have  them 

charge 
You  with  rank  heresy,  blasphemy !    And  throw 
You  out  of  your  position  to  the  gutter 
Where  you  belong !     Wait !     Wait ! 

[Exeunt  Fool  and  Skulls] 

AHRIMAN 

The  Fool  is  worse 
Than  Knave! 

[Ormazd  lifts  his  arms.      The  lights 
brighten;  deep  music] 

ANDREWS 

The  heart  of  Man  has  found  expression 
In  forms  that  he  could  understand,  as  seen 
In  allegory,  symbol,  type,  until 
The  cult  obscured  the  Truth  by  being  taken 
For  it!     The  thing  to  be  explained  as  fact, 
Our  double  nature,  baffles  us,  because 
Our  social  nature  raises  up  black  monsters 
To  scare  our  individuality 
Into  submission;  while,  if  we  explain. 
Through  sacrifice,  our  social  nature,  then 
Our  individuality  blinds  us 
By  making  Selfishness  the  God  of  all! 
[56] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Between  the  two,  we  are  bewildered  so 

Our  life  becomes  a  double  mystery ! 

[Weird  music  and  lights  grow  dim. 
Enter  Fool  and  Skulls  greatly  aug- 
mented. They  surround  Ormazd, 
Ahriman,  Andrews  and  crowd  them 
off  the  stage] 

FOOL 

I  cry  hold!    Hold! 

SKULLS 

Down  with  the  blasphemers  I 

FOOL 

Let's  crowd  them  off  the  Earth!    Out  with  them! 


SKULLS 

Off,  off  the  Earth 

[Exeunt  off  right  in  a  struggling  mnss. 
Lights  go  out.  Music  weird  and 
discordant.  Light  appears  on  the 
center  of  the  stage,  the  couples  are 
sitting  apart  as  before] 


They  go! 


HARDY 

To  please  a  man  you  must  divine 
His  hopes!    It  is  true  flattery! 

[57 1 


THE  UNVEILING 


MISS  DENHAM 

You  do 
Not  flatter  now? 

HARDY 

Forgive  me,  will  you  not? 
I  see  no  cause  to  judge  you  harshly,  rather 
Believe  that  what  you  say  is  true ! 

MISS  DENHAM 

My  friend, 
It  takes  a  woman*s  mind  to  understand 
A  woman! 

HARDY 

[As  if  repeating] 
She  loves  me — 

MISS  DENHAM 

Undoubtedly ! 

HARDY 

Have  you  a  test? 

MISS  DENHAM 

[Cunningly] 

As  sure  as  chemist  e*er 
Devised !    Let  us  invent  some  simple  plan 
For  me  to  be  with  Waring ;  you  with  her ! 
Don't  talk  of  love;  but  dwell  on  riches,  blood, 

[58] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Ambition,  everything  the  world  holds  dear ! 
No  woman  cares  for  sentiment !     It  succeeds 
In  books!    Be  practical  with  her! 

[A    recitation   hell  rings  and  Hardy 
rises] 

HARDY 

[Clasping  hands] 
I  will!    Success! 

MISS  DENHAM 

Success ! 

HARDY 

I  must  away! 
[Exit  left] 

MISS  DENHAM 

[Coming   down   looking   at   the   other 
couple] 
Where  is  the  wrong  in  what  I  do?    There's  none! 
His  good  would  justify  my  part !    His  heart's 
Desire,  left  to  himself,  would  never  be 
Appeased!    Besides,  in  throwing  her  to  him, 
I  win !    My  strategy  meets  its  reward ; 
And  in  addition  saves  a  worthy  man 
From  failure,  for  with  her  his  life  would  be 
No  less!    There's  joy  in  so  determining  things! 

[Exit  left. 

Light   brightens  about    Waring   and 

[59] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Miss  Selwyn.  Ahriman  enters. 
Another  recitation  hell  sounds  and 
Waring  rises.     Weird  music] 

WARING 

There  is  the  bell!    I  must  resume  the  lecture! 

MISS  SELWYN 

At  ten  to-night !    Romance  at  any  age 
Is— 

WARING 

Sweet! 

MISS  SELWYN 

I  am  your  debtor  for  the  word! 

WARING 

Oh,  do  not  speak  of  debtor  when  I  owe 
The  night  to  you ! 

MISS  SELWYN 

I  make  myself  afraid ! 
To-night  at  ten! 

WARING 

I  will  remember ! 
[Exit  right] 

MISS  SELWYN 

Now, 
I  sympathize  with  them  who  wish  to  go 
[60] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Both  ways,  and  travel  quite  a  while  adown 
The  tempting  path  they  know  they  will  not  take 
Just  for  the  sweetness  of  it !    Ah !    Ah ! 

[Expresses  feelings] 
No  woman  can  deny  Love's  every  plea 
No  matter  what  she  thinks  of  him ! 

[Exit  right.  Ahriman  gloats.  Stage 
darkens.  Weird  music.  Light  ap- 
pears in  the  loggia  on  right.  Fool 
greets  Hardy  and  Waring  as  they 
enter  from  the  stage] 

FOOL 

We've  fixed 
It  up!    It's  all  right  now !    Where  have  you  been? 
I  think  these  strangers  cause  this  heresy. 
Ah,  here  they  are ! 

[Enter  Ahriman  and  Ormazd  from  tip 
stage] 

HARDY 

That's  what  the  world  now  thinks ! 

ORMAZD 

The  task  of  teaching  is  to  utter  thought 
So  that  it  speak  the  Truth  in  its  three  forms: 
Fact,  symbol,  allegory — all  in  one; 
So  that  each  mind,  however  undeveloped, 
May  see  the  Truth;  so  that  the  Perfect  Mind 
[61  1 


THE  UNVEILING 


When  it  arrives  can  reconstruct  the  past 
From  out  the  dust  of  thought  of  Savage,  Saint, 
Savant! 

FOOL 

We  do  not  want  such  novelty! 
Give  us  the  old  beliefs !    They  satisfy ! 

HARDY 

You  make  yourself  a  censorship  of  thought 
And  yet  confess  to  knowing  least  about 
The  matter  in  dispute ! 

FOOL 

Whate'er  I  do 
The  world  is  with  me  for  some  cause  or  other ! 

ORMAZD 

[To  Ahriman] 
Peace !    Peace !    Let  us  redeem  our  promise ! 

ANDREWS 

[Profound  music;  lights  bright] 
The  truth  that  we  must  sacrifice  ourselves 
Is  seen  in  many  forms,  but  none  so  clear 
As  in  the  instinct  of  the  martyr's  choice ! 
He  saves  the  Race  through  sacrifice  of  self ! 
This  truth  is  clouded  in  the  Fall  of  Man ! 
The  time  was  when  the  tribe  was  everything; 
The  Individual  was  yet  unborn; 

[62] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Our  life  today  a  dream  as  yet  undreamed ! 

Controlled  and  actuated  by  Religion, 
The  Tribe  subdued  the  rest  of  life ;  and  made 
Itself  supreme,  the  Lord  of  all  creation ! 
A  triumph  that  surpasses  all  that  Man 
Has  yet  achieved!     To  kill  the  dreaded  Python 
In  that  first  day,  to  conquer  Calydonian  boar. 
And  fierce  Numean  lion  in  a  fight 
With  naked  hands  were  feats  that  haughty  Man 
To-day  dare  not  think  of!     But  with  the  Tribe 
To  motive  Man,  it  was  accomplished! 

The  heroes  of  that  day  were  Gods !     And  Gods 
Are  we  who  sacrifice  ourselves  to  reach 
This  higher  living,  the  Everlasting  Life  1 
They  fought  with  naked  hands;  with  naked  Truth 
We  conquer  I     They  subdued  the  physical ; 
We  battle  with  the  mental-moral  monster ! 
They  conquered  Space;  but  we  will  conquer  Time, 
And  realize  the  end  and  aim  of  living ! 

This  wondrous  life  to  them  who  passed  it  down 
Was  christened  Paradise,  the  Golden  Age ! 
One  day  a  chief  cried  out:     "This  thing  is  mine!" 
And  Selfishness  was  born  with  all  its  vast 
Creati veness !    Religion  fell — not  Man — 
From  its  supreme  position  to  a  place 
In  which  it  rivaled  Selfishness  and  Love, 
Giving  Himianity  three  motives  'stead  of  one, 
Thus  making  possible  our  life  to-day; 
And  in  the  end  the  re-attaining  all 

[63] 


THE  UNVEILING 


This  Paradise,  and  more,  through  sacrifice 
Of  Selfishness,  and,  if  need  be,  of  Love! 
This  perfect  Truth  all  men  must  know,  and  then 
Be  free!     'Tis  symboled  in  the  world's  religions! 
What  means  Prometheus  among  the  Greeks; 
Osiris  on  the  Nile;  and  Zoroaster 
Throughout  the  East;  while  in  America 
Quetzalcoatl  fulfills  the  selfsame  type? 
No  matter  where  or  when  we  look  upon 
The  Race,  we  find  the  same  development. 
'Tis  History  in  a  word  and  Science  too! 
Saint  Paul  has  told  the  story  in  the  Christos 
In  whom  we  live  and  move  and  have  our  being; 
As  did  Isaiah  in  God's  Suffering  Servant ! 
But  it  was  pictured  best  of  all  in  One 
Portraying  life  in  allegoric  symbol. 
Redeeming  Man  again  to  Paradise 
By  bringing  to  the  world  God's  Kingdom,  not 
Through  some  mysterious  atonement. 
But  in  a  Life  that  shows  through  sacrifice 
The  way  to  Peace,  to  Truth,  Perfection! 

FOOL 

Oh,  that  mine  ears  should  hear  this  sacrilege! 
And  after  all  I've  said  and  done!     [CanH  speak] 

I'll  be 
Avenged!     [Wildly]  Avenged! 


HARDY 

How,  Fool? 

[64] 


THE  UNVEILING 


FOOL 

A  charge  before 
The  Faculty,  the  Founders,  and  the  Church ! 
[Weeps] 

ANDREWS 

[Paying  no  attention  to  Fool] 
Religion  is  the  binding  force  of  Life; 
Higher  than  Love  as  Love  is  King  of  Self; 
Not  theologic  cant,  but  native  power, 
Beginning  with  the  primal  force  of  matter, 
And  ending  in  Religion,  that  dynamic 
Which  will  in  time  make  all  the  world  one  People; 
And  every  Man  ambitious  to  produce 
What  Nature  is  attempting  in  its  blind 
And  wasteful  way,  the  Perfect  Man  in  each 
Of  us! 

FOOL 

Materialism  in  our  faces ! 

ORMAZD 

[Music  sublime.    Lights  bright] 

Nay! 
The  Truth,  the  deepest  Truth  in  Nature,  hear! 

ANDREWS 

God  is  Religion !    He  acts  in  many  ways. 
But  always  building  to  the  Perfect  Life, 
By  means  circuitous  to  Man;  to  God 
»  165) 


THE  UNVEILING 


The  only  way!     Because  for  every  push 
There  is  a  pull,  the  Perfect  Life  is  found 
Between  opposing  energies,  and  not 
Within  a  world  of  Peace,  of  Light,  and  Joy; 
But  one  of  Struggle,  Darkness,  and  Despair! 
For  so  the  Great  are  grown,  and  all  that  God 
Stands  for  in  every  version  of  the  Truth 
Vouchsafed  to  Man ! 

FOOL 

[Music  painful.     Lights  diminish] 
To  think  that  this  should  come 
From  this  great  School ! 

[Fool  rises  up  wildly  and  cries] 

When  nothing  else  will  do, 
Mob-law  is  right !    Come,  men,  let's  organize, 
And  cast  them  forth !    [Exeunt  off  right] 

[Music  weird  and  terrific.  There  is  a 
great  noise  off  right  as  if  a  gigantic 
mob  is  gathering.    Lights  lower] 

ORMAZD 

[Going  to  entrance  right] 

Enough !    The  lesson's  o'er ! 
[He  waves  with  his  arm  and  the  noise 

subsides  and  suddenly  it  darkens. 

Exit  right] 

AHRIMAN 

I'll  not  go  yet!     I  heard  a  promise  made 
That  I  will  see  fulfilled!    This  much  I  share 
[66] 


THE  UNVEILING 


With  Man,  I  love  to  see  a  lover !     Ha ! 

Ha!     Ha! 

[He  lifts  his  arms  and  all  is  dark.  Weird 
music.  Music  changes  to  that  of 
passion.  The  scene  on  the  full  stage 
is  night.  The  stars  show  through 
the  curtain  at  the  back.  Lights 
appear  in  an  upper  room  of  the  so- 
rority house.  Waring,  dressed  as  a 
romantic  lover,  runs  out  on  the  stage] 

WARING 

O,  Night,  how  kind  you  are  to  help 

Me  in  my  quest !    As  dear  to  Love  as  light 

Is  to  the  mind!    For  Love  cannot  express 

Itself  with  magic  touch  except  it  have 

The  wand  of  Darkness  ope  its  lips!    [Sees  Miss 

Selwyn  coming]    The  Gods 
Fulfil  their  promise !    Ah ! 

[Miss  Selwyn  comes  down  to  him 
hurriedly.     Weird  music] 

MISS  SELWYN 

[Very  much  agitated] 

I  am  so  frightened ! 
This  is  my  first  adventure  of  the  kind! 

WARING 

Be  not  afraid! 

[Ahriman    appears    down  front  and 
[67] 


THE  UNVEILING 


watches  the  scene.     Waring  stands 
mute,  stunned  at  his  seeming  success] 

MISS  SELWYN 

[Not  daring  to  trust  herself] 

I  must  go  in !     [Pause]     *Tis  sweet 
Of  you  to  gratify  my  foolish  wish ! 

WARING 

[Losing  his  timidity] 
And  sweet  of  you  to  call  it  sweet !     Oh,  speak 
The  word  again! 

MISS  SELWYN 

[Repressing  him.     He  turns  downcast] 

No !     Leave  me  now !     [He  starts] 

No !     Do  Not  go !     [He  stands  with  his  hack  to  her] 

You  have  not  touched  my — hand;  or  said — 
Good-night!      [She  wished  to  say:  ''You  have  not 
touched  my  lips  or  said  you  love  me!''] 

WARING 

[Puts  arms  about  her.     She  yields] 
I  cannot  see  your  lips;  and  yet 
I  feel  your  breath  upon  my  cheek! 

MISS  SELWYN 

[Fearing  to  trust  herself  further] 

Good-night ! 
[Sighs] 

[68] 


THE  UNVEILING 


WARING 
[Passionately] 
Oh,  lips  were  made  for  purpose  other  than 
Mere  sighs ! 

[Kisses  her  madly;  she  yields  for  a 
moment.  Music  full  of  passion. 
Lights  dream-like] 

MISS  SELWYN 

[Trying  to  release  herself] 
I  never  will  forgive  you! 
[Music  full  of  pain] 

WARING 

Wait 
Until  I  ask  you! 

[Kisses  her  still  more  madly] 

MISS  SELWYN 

[Angrily] 

Again,  and  I  shall  scream! 
[Struggles] 

WARING 

If  you  but  knew  how  much  I  love  you,  dear! 

MISS  SELWYN 

[Freeing  herself] 
How  can  I  ever  speak  to  you  again ! 

[69] 


THE  UNVEILING 


WARING 

The  language  of  your  lips,  and  not  your  words, 
Has  told  the  secret  of  your  heart!    Good-night! 
Forgive  me,  Sweet !     Ah !     Ah ! 

[Expresses feelings.  Runs  out.  Weird 
music.  Miss  Selwyn  hastily  runs 
up  the  steps  of  the  sorority  house.  A 
light  appears  in  a  window  and  Miss 
Denham  is  seen  as  a  picture.  Miss 
Selwyn  turns  as  if  speaking  to  the 
departing  Waring,  off  left] 

MISS  SELWYN 

You  call  this  love? 
I'd  rather  be  subjected  to  a  ball 
And  chain  than  bound  in  such  a  fashion!     Ah! 

[Expresses  feeling] 
The  basest  slave  that  ever  groaned  could  run 
Away !     One  taste  of  love  is  all  I  want ! 
'Tis  well  to  know  just  what  it  is !     But  give 
Me  any  bond  save  love!     Oh!     Oh!     The  chains, 
The  hooks !     It  grapples  you  and  binds,  and  binds ! 
If  any  difference  I  make  in  men, 
May  I  be  smothered  with  his  kisses,  crushed 
In  his  embrace,  and  be  effaced  completely; 
For  that  is  love!     Ah!     Ah!     [Expresses  feelings 
ascending  the  steps.  Light  goes  out  in 
Miss  Denham' s  window.     Ahriman 
looks  intently   after   Miss   Selwyn. 

[70] 


THE  UNVEILING 


As  she  is  about  to  go  into  house,  she 
turns,  wavering  for  a  moment,  and 
looks  off  left,  her  face  softening. 
Ahriman  seems  to  be  fascinating  her. 
The  expression  of  her  face  changes 
and,  thoroughly  conquering  herself ^ 
she  goes  into  the  house.  Exit  Ahri- 
man.    Weird  music  stops] 

CURTAIN 


17I1 


ACT  II 


[731 


ACT  II 

The  setting  is  the  same  as  at  the  end  of  Act  I, 
There  is  a  meeting  of  the  Faculty  of  Blair  University 
in  the  loggia  at  the  left,  President  Romaine  presiding. 
Members  of  the  faculty,  trustees,  professors,  Ormazd, 
Ahriman,  Hardy,  Waring  discovered.  It  is  in  re- 
gard to  the  heresy  trial  of  Dr.  Andrews.  Music 
weird.    Lights  dream-like. 

ROMAINE 

It  came  to  us  today  that  there  had  been 
A  grievous  indiscretion  in  free  speech 
Within  our  portals,  sacred  to  the  Creed, 
This  fault  we  would  investigate.     Good  Sirs: 
We  foster  freedom,  but  as  everyone 
Should  know,  it  is  the  word,  and  not  the  fact 
We  prize!    Each  day  we  live  makes  liberty 
The  more  impossible  in  college  life. 
'Tis  an  advertisement,  which,  to  make  good, 
Would  extirpate  at  once,  and  totally. 
The  fruitful  dogmas  that  our  Founders  cherish  1 
Charges  will  be  preferred,  and  trial  held. 
And  then  the  faulty  one  will  be  dismissed  I 
[751 


THE  UNVEILING 


HAWTRY 

You  said  one,  did  I  hear  aright? 

ROMAINE 


You  did! 

ANDREWS 

Please  name  the  one  accused. 

ROMAINE 

Why  should  you  ask? 

ANDREWS 

I  thought  that  I,  perhaps,  might  be  the  one 
To  whom  you  now  allude. 

ROMAINE 

You  are! 

ANDREWS 

I  wish 
To  see  the  charge  preferred,  have  ample  time 
To  make  defense. 

ROMAINE 

The  charge  is  this,  deny 
It  if  you  can:     You  have  misled  our  youth; 
Profaned  Religion,  and  the  mysteries; 
Denied  Man's  immortality!     What's  worse. 
You  do  not  teach  approved  Idealism — 

[76] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Our  bread,  our  meat,  our  drink,  the  capital 

Of  every  college  in  the  votive  world; 

Sacred  and  yet  profane,  Pagan,  yet  Christian, 

Because  it  steals  the  pious  words  of  Faith, 

So  we  can  safely  sport  as  puppy  wolves 

In  this  lamb's  clothing!    Joy  to  us,  and  hurt 

To  none ;  because  its  language  means  one  thing 

To  Faith  another  to  Philosophy; 

And  if  turned  wrong-side  out  might  even  speak 

The  naked  Truth  when  thus  reversed !    To  teach 

IdeaHsm  is  all  the  liberty 

We  should  allow  the  world  to-day  in  teaching  1 

We  must  wrap  up  the  Truth  in  Mysticism 

Or  else  the  blinded  herd  will  cease  to  need 

Our  help ;  be  self-sufficing  ever  after ! 

But,  Sir,  instead,  you  teach  Materialism, 

And  thus  explain  the  Universe  to  all; 

Would  leave  no  fattening  mystery  for  us 

To  live  upon;  would  make  the  world  of  thought 

So  common  man  can  see  the  aim  of  Life, 

And  so  disdain  our  teaching;  thus  destroy 

The  crowded  mart  of  Pedantry ;  and  end 

By  making  us  all  lose  our  sinecures! 

While  in  Theology,  our  other  staple, 

You  flay  the  inspiration  of  the  Scriptures, 

Or  else  interpret  them  not  with  the  torch 

Of  dim  tradition,  but  instead  the  arc 

Of  Higher  Criticism,  ungodly  science. 

With  all  its  damning  implications ! 

[771 


THE  UNVEILING 


Of  this  you  are  accused  and  more !     'Tis  said 
That  you  blasphemed,  grew  eloquent  in  fierce, 
Audacious  indignation  at  the  world's 
Lifetime  of  hampering  you !     'Tis  said  you  spoke 
Regardless  of  the  teaching  of  the  ages; 
Struck  down  in  lofty  ire  the  sacred  things 
That  we  esteem  most  dear!    And  why?     Because, 
While  yet  beholden  to  these  things,  you  deem 
Them  evil!     One  cannot  recite  the  charge 
And  not  become  indignant ! 

ANDREWS 

I  deny 
The  accusation,  and  demand  to  know 
At  once  the  one  who  does  accuse  me !    Speak ! 

ROMAINE 

Come  hither,  Fool! 

[As  Fool  enters  music  discordant] 

ANDREWS 

He  does  not  know  enough 
To  guide  himself,  then  how  can  he  guide  others? 

FOOL 

The  lawyer,  when  he  has  no  case,  maligns 
The  witnesses.     I  know  when  I  am  hurt. 
And  that  is  all  of  knowledge!     I  can  name 
Your  fault.     I  have  it  written  word  for  word. 
Just  as  you  spoke  it !    Now,  escape,  blasphemer ! 
[78] 


THE  UNVEILING 


ROMAINE 

Silence! 

ANDREWS 

Professor  Hawtry,  will  you  act 
As  my  attorney?     I  will  fight  this  case 
So  that  the  world  will  know  how  it's  deceived 
By  you  who  farm  its  hopes  and  fears;  and  reap 
Rich  harvest,  'stead  of  husks,  and  chaff  and  straw, 
The  kind  of  husbandry  you  give  the  world ! 
You  perpetrate  the  greatest  wrong  the  Race 
Has  ever  imdergone,  the  marketing 
Of  Error  for  the  Truth !    You  are  on  trial, 
Not  I !    The  world  is  ready  for  the  Truth, 
And  I  will  speak  it! 

FOOL 

Well,  do  so,  blasphemer, 
What  will  you  gain?     *' Where  ignorance  is  bliss 
Tisfolly  tobe  wise!" 

ANDREWS 

Not  so!    Where  ignorance 
Is  bliss  there  Folly  is  an  honored  guest, 
And  Vice  dares  claim  respect;  while  Virtue  shares 
With  Truth  contempt !     Within  this  mazy  world 
Great  giants  stalk  where  puny  pigmies  dwell ! 
But  if  Enlightenment  should  flood  the  scene. 
This  ostrich-headed  herd  would  feel  outraged; 
Because  the  parasites  who  use  it  teach 
l79l 


THE  UNVEILING 


That  Truth  is  Error,  dreams  are  life;  Good,  Bad! 

It  battles  knowledge  as  an  ill,  when  Truth 

Alone  can  bring  sweet  peace  to  all  Mankind! 

The  bliss  of  ignorance  is  drunkenness, 

A  mental  opiate,  more  cursed  than  any, 

Which  poor  and  weak  are  blackmailed  into  taking. 

Thereby  securing  only  scant  relief, 

And  not  the  everlasting  peace  of  science! 

ROMAINE 

Enough!    Enough!     Hear  all!     The  trial  will  be 
To-morrow,  here  the  place,  and  anyone 
Who  makes  this  known  unto  the  world  will  be 
Expelled  this  presence  for  contempt ! 

[Music  painful.  Exeunt  in  a  body. 
Lights  go  out  in  loggia.  Ormazd 
and  Ahriman  down  stage.  Weird 
music;  lights  low] 


To  laugh  were  sad! 


AHRIMAN 

Ha!  Ha! 


ORMAZD 

Why  do  you  jest? 


AHRIMAN 


Ha!  Ha! 


Is  Evil  not  a  jest  of  Fate?    What  else? 
He  used  his  liberty  as  some  use  wine! 
[80] 


THE  UNVEILING 


He  might  have  spoken  his  progressive  thought 

A  thousand  times  with  full  impunity; 

But  Chance  brought  in  the  Fool,  an  element 

Which  Nature  makes  provision  for  in  all 

Its  ventures,  but  which  Man  discounts!     And  so 

He  fell,  like  Adam,  in  his  first  offense! 

Ha !  Ha !    Some  have  embraced  the  damned  sweet 

thing 
A  million  times,  and  yet  as  saints  have  died! 
'Tis  Chance! 

ORMAZD 

A  better  word  would  be  blind  Fate! 

AHRIMAN 

Nay!    Nay!    To  laugh  were  sad!     'Tis  life!    Ha! 
Ha! 

[Lifts  his  arms  and  all  is  dark.  Weird 
music.  Exeunt  left.  Lights  ap' 
pear  in  the  sorority  house  at  the 
back.  Miss  Selwyn  is  discovered. 
Annette  appears  at  her  ring.  They 
are  visible  through  the  wide  windows 
on  the  left] 

MISS  SELWYN 

Annette,  if  Mr.  Waring  calls  again,  do  not 
Admit  him.     Do  you  hear? 
<^  [8il 


THE  UNVEILING 


ANNETTE 

He  pleads  so,  Miss, 
Not  words  but  with  his  eyes !    And  when  I  say 
You're  not  at  home,  he  turns  away  downcast. 
Dejected,  like  a  mourner  with  his  dead! 

MISS  SELWYN 

This  is  sufficient !     Not  another  word! 
I  will  not  see  him,  do  you  hear? 

ANNETTE 

Him  have 
I  turned  away  a  hundred  times ! 

MISS  SELWYN 

No  difference! 
Turn  him  away  again! 

ANNETTE 

Should  any  man  love  me, 
As  he  loves  you,  I'd  die  for  him!    You — 

MISS  SELWYN 

Not 
Another  word! 

[Rises  angrily.  Music  full  of  de- 
spondency. Annette  goes  out.  There 
is  confusion  in  the  hallway,  and 
Waring  enters,  lovelorn,  followed  by 
Annette] 

[82] 


THE  UNVEILING 


ANNETTE 

I  could  not  help  it,  Miss! 

MISS  SELWYN 

Go!     Do     you    hear!     [Exit    Annette    right]     All 

forms,  all  etiquette 
You  rudely  put  aside  without  one  thought ! 
You  break  in  as  your  savage  forebear  did 
When  he  be-clubbed  his  bride  into  submission 
And  carried  her  away ! 

[Music  full  of  pain.     Lights  waver] 

WARING 

If  you  but  knew 
How  my  heart  suffers  you  could  not  refuse 
To  listen  to  my  plea  I     I  cannot  understand 
The  way  you  act !    Who  could?     One  moment  I 
Imagine  your  regard  is  hate,  the  next 
I  think  it  love !    And  so  I  dream !    How  could 
You  let  me  kiss  you,  if  you  did  not  love  me  ? 
You  do!    But  when  I  think  the  way  you  hide 
Yotu-self,  deny  me  one  small  word,  and  not  a  line, 
When  I  pour  out  my  heart  in  volumes — 
You  are  unkind!    You  cannot  be  untrue! 
'Tis  all  because  you  do  not  see  how  much 
I  love  you !     I  would  give  my  life  for  you ! 
Is  there  some  hidden  cause,  I  know  not  what, 
To  make  you  doubt,  deny,  mistrust  my  love? 
Oh,  never,  never  was  a  woman  loved 

[83] 


THE  UNVEILING 


As  I  love  you !     Could  you  but  test  my  love 
With  some  great  deed  that  would  vouchsafe  to  me 
Some  hope! — Why  will  you  not  redeem  the  pledge 
Your  kisses  made  ?     Answer !     Oh,  I  could  plead 
Forever,  then  not  speak  my  boundless  love 
For  you! 

MISS  SELWYN 

[Calmly] 
As  a  fact  in  psychology, 
Perhaps,  I  should  enjoy,  immensely,  Sir, 
Your  acting;  but  no  woman  who  deserves 
The  name,  desires  the  proffer  of  a  love 
She  can't  reciprocate !    This  is  my  answer ! 

WARING 

[Music  full  of  pathos] 
No  I     It  is  not !     Why  are  you  pale  ?     What  say 
Your  guilty  eyes,  truth  speakers  of  the  heart  ? 
Oh,  you  are  killing  Love,  I  know  not  why ! 
For  there  is  murder  in  your  voice !     You  seek 
To  cast  Love  out  your  heart!     (It  can't  be  done!) 
And  so  entomb  him  in  the  smallest  space, 
Effacing  every  clue  to  his  past  whereabouts ! 
But  hear  the  truth :     A  time  will  come  in  spite 
Of  all  that  you  can  do  when  his  small  cry 
Will  rise  above  your  pride — (If  that  it  is) 
Your  vain  ambition — (If  that  it  is)  yourself — 
(If  that  it  is)  for  Love  and  Self  sometimes 

[84] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Do  battle  in  a  woman's  heart,  unseen, 
When  Duty  is  forgotten;  then  the  death 
Of  Love — this  burial  in  your  heart — will  be 
Wept  for  with  never  ending  tears;  and  Life 
Will  be  a  cripple  dragging  hours  and  days 
Which  would  have  flown  with  wings  of  Love  I 

MISS  SELWYN 

Enough ! 
Why  mouth  words?     My  decision  has  been  made! 

WARING 

[Music  deep  pathos.    Lights  low] 
I  care  not  for  myself,  but  you  alone ! 
Think  of  your  life  devoid  of  love — turn  not 
Away,  but  hear  my  plea!     No  sweet  home  coming, 
No  long-looked-f or  return  of  one  you  love ! 
And  no  delight  in  seeing  in  another 
Yourself!     Live  life  again,  complete,  entire, 
All  but  self-consciousness !     You  forfeit  this  I 
Trace  in  some  infant  form — so  wonderful — 
Your  likeness  in  the  solid  glass  of  flesh, 
Thus  making  self  immortal  here  on  Earth  I 
A  boon  bestowed  on  lovers  when  the  Race 
Began!    Can  you  replace  with  anything 
Pure  motherhood?    I  could  not  love  you  then  I 
To  me  you  are  the  greatest  of  your  sex ; 
And  as  the  flower  which  attains  perfection 
Appears  a  finished  thing  of  beauty,  only 

I85] 


THE  UNVEILING 


For  Beauty's  sake,  so  you  do  hesitate 

Before  you  yield  allegiance  to  the  cry 

Of  Love  and  Life!     Of  all  the  boons  that  should 

Be  handed  down  to  gladden  coming  men 

Rare  beauty  is  the  first,  and  ever  was; 

Because  rare  beauty  is  the  type  all  Nature 

Endeavors  to  attain! 


MISS  SELWYN 

You  reason  well; 
But  there  is  this  objection:  Sir:  I  do 
Not  love  you! 

WARING 


[Music  hopeless  despondency] 

Not — ^love — ^me ! 
[Shrinks  back] 


MISS  SELWYN 

I  do  admire 
You  much;  appreciate  you  fully,  but  love — 
There  is  no  such  a  thing !     It  is  the  dream 
Of  silly  girls,  and  moonstruck  boys;  that's  all! 
I  place  you  in  a  higher  class  than  these. 
My  friend,  my  quondam  comrade,  and  some  day 
When  3^ou  forget  this  ill-timed  declaration, 
Let  us  be  friends  again!    Till  then  adieu! 
[86] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Oh!    Oh! 


WARING 

[Music  full  of  horror] 

[He  sees  at  last  the  kind  of  woman  she 
is,  and  runs  out,  screaming  his 
feelings.  She  stands  deeply  morti- 
fied to  know  that  she  has  been  dis- 
covered. Lights  go  out.  Exit  left. 
Ormazd  and  Ahriman  appear  down 
stage.  Lights  are  dim.  Music 
weird] 


AHRIMAN 


The  unfit  man! 


ORMAZD 

'Tis  she  who  misses  life ! 
His  loss  is  gain !     He  suffers  through  no  fault 
Of  his;  is  victim  of  the  Chance  that  Life 
Encoimters  to  be  Life!    I  honor  him! 


AHRIMAN 

The  treasure  of  his  heart,  he  blindly  lays 
In  her  unworthy  hands !    Because  his  love 
Is  pure,  he  fancies  she  is  worthy  of  it ! 
Never  did  cause  so  small  produce  so  great 
Effect,  poor  devil  suffer  more  for  nothing ! 
We  gave  him  Truth  in  this  with  emphasis ! 

I87] 


THE  UNVEILING 


ORMAZD 

*Tis  thus  that  Nature  keeps  the  racial  type 

From  too  great  variation  at  expense 

Of  individuality !     Mankind 

Is  not  the  arbiter  of  Destiny! 

This  is  an  error  born  of  Hope,  and  housed, 

Like  plants,  away  from  Nature's  better  light. 

Which,  while  severe,  is  Evil  to  be  Good! 

AHRIMAN 

A  joke  the  Gods  play  on  Mankind!     Ha!  Ha! 

[Ahriman  lifts  his  arms  and  all  is  dark. 
Weird  music.  Lights  appear  in  the 
loggia  at  the  left.  It  is  the  trial  of 
Dr.  Andrews  before  the  Trustees  of 
the  University.  Ahriman,  Ormazd, 
Waring,  and  Hardy  enter  from  stage. 
Weird  music] 

ROMAINE 

Prosecutor,  proceed  to  state  the  case. 

STILWELL 

Misleading  youth  and  heresy! 

ROMAINE 

Call  forth 
The  witness ! 

[Prosecutor  looks  for  Fool,  not  seeing 
Mm,    motions   Hardy   to   take   the 
[88] 


THE  UNVEILING 


witness  chair,  and  points  to  other 
witnesses] 

STILWELL 

Let  us  hear  these  men.     Be  sworn ! 
[All  are  sworn  by  Prosecutor  inaudihly] 

HARDY 

[Addressing  the  Court] 
Your  Honor,  may  it  please  the  Court  assembled: 
I  listened  to  the  lecture,  and  can  say- 
It  wasn't  disregardful  of  the  Creed; 
'Twas  what  we  daily  hear  in  every  chair, 
Especially  hypotheses  of  matter 
And  force. 

ROMAINE 

We  care  not  what  our  chemists  say! 
*Tis  not  expected  that  the  Saintly  Founders 
Would  comprehend  what  Science  teaches.     Pro- 
ceed! 

HARDY 

So  far  as  I  could  see  there  was  no  thought 

Expressed  that  would  not  have  obtained  at  once 

The  speaker  honor  any  place  to-day! 

Had  it  been  written  in  a  book,  it  would, 

No  doubt,  have  made  its  author  great,  a  Darwin 

Of  Sociology! 

[Hardy  steps  down] 
[89] 


THE  UNVEILING 


ROMAINE 

Bring  forth  another  witness. 
[Stilwell  motions  Waring  to  the  witness 
chair] 

WARING 

So  far  as  I  can  judge  I  see  no  place 
For  criticism.     The  Theory  of  Things 
That  has  possessed  the  entire  lower  fields 
Of  learning  was  advanced  into  the  higher ! 

ROMAINE 

It  all  confirms  the  charge ! 

WARING 

But  how  about 
Its  truth? 

ROMAINE 

Proceed !    To  re-commit  the  crime 
Is  no  defense! 

[Waring  throws  up  his  hands  in  dis- 
gust and  steps  down.     To  Ormazd] 
Will  you  not  testify? 

ORMAZD 

[Taking  witness  chair] 
I  am  a  stranger  visiting  your  halls, 
So  I  am  loath  to  testify  against 
This  man.     If  what  he  taught  were  proven  true, 
Would  that  sufi&ce? 

[90] 


THE  UNVEILING 


ROMAINE 


The  question  is,  What  did 
He  teach?     Whether  'tis  true  or  not  is  nothing! 
Did  he  mis-teach  the  Creed;  its  truth  is  not 
In  question! 


ORMAZD 

Then,  I  offer  this:    The  Truth 
Cannot  be  settled  by  a  vote  of  men ! 
It  is  and  always  was  by  facts  determined; 
And  no  amount  of  Faith  can  banish  it ! 
It  is  the  mind's  best  effort  in  its  count 
Of  things;  Nature  in  picture  from  experience! 
It  fosters  no  regard  for  former  visions ! 
'Twould  be  as  fair  to  ask  the  lifeless  eyes 
Of  ancient  men  to  see  for  us  to-day, 
As  that  their  brains,  long  dead, — and  no  less  dead, 
Because  embalmed  in  books — should  do  our  think- 
ing; 
Their  breasts  our  feeling:  for  the  world  will  learn 
Some  day  that  God,  despite  all  institutions, 
Could  never  have  a  favorite!    And  while. 
Good  Sirs,  you  sit  in  judgment  on  this  man, 
Learn  this,  there's  one  thing  that  cannot  be  hurt 
By  freedom  of  discussion,  that  is  the  Truth! 
All  else  will  pass  into  oblivion! 

[Ortnazd  steps  down.     Weird  music. 
Trustees  talk  among  themselves] 

[91 1 


THE  UNVEILING 


PENROSE 

What  we  believe  is  Truth!    All  else  is  schism! 

ROMAINE 

[To  Ahriman] 
Will  you  not  testify? 

AHRIMAN 

[Weird  music.     Takes  chair] 
I  heard  him  lecture. 
In  my  opinion  Truth  is  what  you  think 
It  is;  and  that  is  Good  that  you  think  Good! 
The  Church  should  make  the  mind,  not  mind  the 

Church! 
Tradition,  fitting  things  to  suit  the  soul 
Of  weak  Himianity,  should  cover  all 
Uncertainty,  and  then,  this  bane  of  life 
Will  be  no  more !     The  grave  is  languageless ! 
You  can't  remonstrate  there,  however  wronged; 
And  should  your  ticket  to  the  other  world 
Discharge  you  in  the  station,  all  is  well ! 
In  this  the  thought  and  thing  are  one!     In  fact. 
The  after  life  is  what  you  think  it  is ; 
For  thought  is  life  that  can  be  made  to  order ! 
But  Death  is  Death  no  matter  what  you  think! 

What  Error  this  enables  you  to  sell 
To  Man!     He  serves  you  through  his  purchased 

dream; 
And  you  can  live,  if  you  are  wise  enough 

[92] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Not  to  be  duped  in  duping  him !     Alas ! 
'Tis  hard  to  see  the  way  to  live  when  dust 
Is  thrown  into  the  air  as  well  as  eyes; 
Because  the  clouds  of  Error  do  not  fall 
In  fruitful  rain,  but  blighting  ashes !     So 
That  he  who  lives  by  leading  men  astray 
Quite  often  falls  into  the  pit  he  leads 
Them  to — a  friendly  caution  from  experience ! 

So  you  are  right,  Good  Sirs,  since  Truth  cannot 
Be  known  take  that  belief  which  pays  you  best 
And  foist  it  on  to  all ! 

[Steps  down.     Weird  music] 


RAMSDEN 

Some  things  he  says 


Are  true! 

PENROSE 

And  all  is  practical! 

ROWLANDS 

The  Creed! 


Stand  by 


ROMAINE 

Bring  in  the  prosecuting  witness  I 
[Weird  music.     The  Fool  enters  and 
takes  the  chair] 

FOOL 

I  heard  the  lecture,  and  straightway  began 
To  fall !     It  undermined  my  moral  nature, 
[93l 


THE  UNVEILING 


So  that  I  drifted  into  sin  and  vice ! 
I  reasoned  thus:     If  what  he  says  is  true, 
Then  what  I  fear  does  not  exist.     The  fence 
Of  fear  being  down,  I  departed  on 
The  road  to  Ruin !     Ah!     I  drank!     I  stole 
Without  one  qualm  of  conscience, — think  of  that ! 
I  swore  and  mocked,  remembered  words  of  sin; 
And  still  Remorse  did  not  o'er-take  me !     But 
When  I  forgot,  as  time  went  on,  just  what 
He  taught,  my  early  training  did  assert 
Itself !     Once  more  I  locked  myself  within 
Its  doors  as  Vice  secure  as  if  no  sin 
Existed !     Sirs,  if  what  he  taught  were  true, 
I  would  run  wild,  be  free,  restrained  by  nothing, 
But  subject  to  the  Devil  and  his  demons! 
To  save  myself  and  all  immortal  souls, 
I  ask  you  stop  his  mouth  from  further  speech ! 
[Steps  down] 

PENROSE 

Quite  clear! 

ROWLANDS 

This  man  should  be  condemned  at  once ! 

RAMSDEN 

No!     Let's  consider  his  defense! 

[They  talk  among  themselves.     Weird 
music] 

l94] 


THE  UNVEILING 


ROMAINE 

We'Uhear 
The  argument ! 

HAWTRY 

Am  I  not  privileged? 

ROMAINE 

You  are ! 
Proceed ! 

[Weird  music.     Ormazd  lifts  arms  and 
there  is  added  light] 

HAWTRY 

The  question  is,  What  is  the  Truth? 
It  is  that  correspondence  which  exists 
Between  the  mind  and  Nature !     Time  recks  not 
With  what  men  think  but  throws  it  all  aside 
That  cannot  stand  the  test  of  correspondence ! 
Error  may  be  enthroned  since  time  began, 
And  fall  within  a  day !    The  vice  in  thinking 
Consists  in  not  considering  facts;  and  not 
In  wilful  misconstruing  them.     The  mind, 
If  led  by  facts  to-day,  will  always  end 
By  finding  Truth!     The  man  [looks  at  Fool]  who 

must  be  checked 
By  superstition  is  degenerate! 
Morality,  not  satisfied  with  Good, 
But  seeks  reward,  or  fears  an  after  Hell, 
Belies  the  name!     Think  you  that  everything 

[951 


THE  UNVEILING 


That  lives  fulfills  its  nature  yet  Mankind 
Cannot  be  trusted?     This  is  true  sacrilege, 
And  in  the  future  will  be  counted  such ! 
Mankind  is  self-sufficing  as  the  rest 
Of  Nature,  only  through  the  art  of  speech, 
And  writing,  it  has  always  clung  to  thought 
Outlived  by  centuries,  which  yet  usurps 
The  place  of  mind,  denies  the  Race  its  right 
Of  seeing  Nature  whole,  and  living  life 
Dictated  by  experience ! 

Besides, 
If  the  accused  is  guilty  of  the  charge 
He  is  confronted  with,  the  world  of  life 
Is  guilty  too,  for  Nature  teaches  freedom ! 
We  learn  to  walk  by  falling,  not  with  crutches ! 
What  Man  has  dreaded  most  has  always  been 
His  need !     His  curse  was  a  disguised  boon ! 
He  feared  the  danger  in  his  pressing  want. 
And  yet  it  made  him !     Most  often  has  he  been 
A  truant  when  attending  Nature's  school; 
Ever  preferring  peace  at  any  price 
To  that  adventuring  with  Fate,  he  calls 
Temptation,  thus  denying  to  himself 
All  chance  of  growth  so  that  he  may  escape 
All  danger,  and  thereby  maintain  his  status! 
His  fear  of  liberty  has  kept  him  out 
Of  Paradise  much  more  than  knowledge  lost 
It  to  him! 

Truth  competes  with  Error  strangely ! 

[96] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Ten  wasteful  errors  feed  on  smiling  dupes, 

While  useful  Truth  stands  hungry  unemployed; 

And  such  grotesque  absurdities  inhabit 

Truth's  house  to-day  that  they  out-do  with  ease 

The  most  romantic  story  ever  told 

In  lacking  all  similitude  to  fact ; 

And  only  for  the  blind  of  Ignorance, 

Our  early  training,  they  would  kill  the  Race 

With  laughter !     Humor  yet  will  save  Mankind, 

But  not  to-day? 

O  blatant  Policy, 
Bold  Ignorance,  and  craven  Toleration, 
It  is  to  you,  this  shame  belongs !     Good  Sirs, 
Why  not  accept  your  opportunity, 
Exterminate  these  mental-moral  monsters, 
Which  now  defy  the  world,  as  you  attempt 
The  physical  plagues  of  men !     Disease  may  kill ; 
But  Error  is  a  thousand  times  more  hurtful. 
For  it  destroys,  not  body  but  the  mind! 
The  Truth  will  pay  when  it  replaces  Error — 
Putting  the  case  upon  its  lowest  plane — 
And  take  the  waiting  world  in  its  employ! 
Think  of  the  unborn  millions  yet  to  be 
Before  our  planet  falls  into  the  Sun ! 
Through  pity  let  them  have  the  Truth,  not  live 
Our  wondrous  life,  confronted  by  your  gift, 
Imaginary  terrors  everywhere, 
Besides  the  basic  conflict  bom  of  things, 
The  agony  that  cannot  be  avoided, 
7  [97  1 


THE  UNVEILING 


The  thousand  hurts  that  come  to  us  in  spite 
Of  all  that  Hope  and  Love  can  do!     To  know 
What  life  is,  thus  to  realize  the  gist 
Of  living,  find  out  where  Mankind  belongs 
In  Nature,  feel  how  close  akin  we  are 
To  all,  relieves  our  universal  life 
Of  your  sad  fear  of  Death,  which  puts  a  pall 
Upon  all  being,  making  life  a  Hell 
Escaped  by  heeding  nothing  but  blind  Faith, 
Ignoble  Greed,  and  empty  Folly!     Sirs, 
We  are  entitled  to  the  Truth  to-day! 
I  seek  to  justify  the  charge  against 
My  colleague;  for,  if  he  trangressed  the  bounds 
Of  Dogma,  'twas  a  fault  in  our  small  world, 
Which  will  become  a  favor  in  the  world 
At  large ;  for  Truth  like  sunshine  freely  lights 
The  Race,  while  Error  is  a  cloud  that  costs 
Its  dupes  a  never  ending  stream  of  gold 
For  blinding  them!     I'm  done! 
[Steps  aside] 


FOOL 


And  so  am  I ! 


ROMAINE 

[To  Hawiry] 
This,   Sir,  in  my  belief  is  no  defense!    [To  the 

Court] 
And  you  must  not  consider  facts  outside 
The  issues  of  the  case !     The  world  may  think 

[98I 


THE  UNVEILING 


A  thousand  things;  that  should  not  trouble  us! 
We  do  not  care!  The  question  is  quite  simple, 
Shall  we  excuse  this  open  heresy? 

[The  trustees  begin  to  deliberate. 
Weird  music] 

ORMAZD 

[To  Ahriman] 
What  think  you  of  the  verdict? 

AHRIMAN 

I  always  feel 
Certain  in  what  I  guess  when  anything 
Is  left  to  bigotry! 

RAMSDEN 

[To  Romaine] 

The  verdict,  Sir, 
Is  guilty! 

ROMAINE 

Tis  well !    Offender,  what  have  you 
To  say  why  sentence  be  with-held? 

ANDREWS 

Nothing! 
If  what  has  been  expressed  does  not  touch  you. 
No  word  that  I  could  speak  in  my  defense 
Would  answer;  so  proceed!    The  world  will  judge, 
If  not  to-day,  then  in  the  Future,  which  of  us 
Is  guilty! 

[991 


THE  UNVEILING 


ROMAINE 

The  sentence  is  that  you  resign 
Your  chair! 

[He  becomes  confused  at  the  dignity  of 
Dr.  Andrews y  the  manifest  insecurity 
of  the  trustees.      Weird  music.     It 
grows  dark] 
But  then  we  give  you  three  months'  time 
In  which  to  find  another; — and  in  addition, 
Commend  you  to  the  world ! 

HAWTRY 

Why  not  acquit? 

ROMAINE 

[Somewhat  re-assured] 
At  times  it  helps  the  cause  of  Orthodoxy 
To  seem  severe  with  lofty  heretics! 
We  have  to  hold  some  one  responsible 
For  skepticism,  thus  gratify  the  faithful; 
Enrich  ourselves  in  glory !     'Twill  not  hurt 
Your  friend;  and  does  the  Founders  so  much  good! 
Remember,  not  a  word  of  this  must  be 
Imparted  to  the  outside  world ! 

[Music  weird,  bordering  on  the  ridicu- 
lous. Lights  go  out  and  all  leave 
except  Ormazd  and  Ahriman] 

AHRIMAN 

Ha!  Ha! 

[  100  ] 


THE  UNVEILING 


ORMAZD 

Mankind  is  subject  more  to  pity  than 
To  laughter! 

AHRIMAN 

Yes !     It  would  not  do  for  Yahwe 
To  have  too  much  compassion,  for  he  might 
Allay  life's  ills,  and,  like  indulgent  parents 
Thus  ruin  Man  by  placing  him  above 
That  vital  School — the  hurts  of  Ignorance, 
The  Vice  of  Circumstance,  the  painful  Truth ! 

[Ahriman  lifts  arms  and  all  is  dark. 
Weird  music.  Lights  appear  in  the 
sorority  house  at  the  hack  showing 
a  girl's  room  beautifully  furnished. 
Miss  Selwyn  takes  an  ivory  Cupid 
from  the  mantel] 


MISS  SELWYN 

Cupid,  let's  have  it  out  once  and  for  all ! 
Your  entire  kind  henceforward,  I  taboo ! 
Oh,  don't  smile  back  at  me,  you  rogue,  I  mean 
So  far  as  love  pertains;  no  more  for  us! 
I'll  use  you  as  of  old,  sweet  Boy,  Ha!  Ha! 
We  have  some  memories ! — Ah,  memories. 
We  cannot  banish,   if    we  would,   [kisses  figure] 
sweet  Cupid! 

Iioi] 


TKR  UNVEILING 


They  are  a  part  of  what  we  are,  [lowers  image]  a 

warning 
Of  what  may  come,  if  we — Ah !     Ah ! 

[Expressing  her  feelings.      She  dashes 
the  figure  to  pieces] 

Ah!    Ah! 
[Enter  Annette.     Music  full  of  guile] 


Mr.  Hardy! 


ANNETTE 

[Enter  Hardy] 
[Exit  Annette] 


MISS  SELWYN 

Why  the  honor  of  this  call? 

HARDY 

I  came  of  age  to-day,  and  publish  broad 
The  great  event  by  private  proclamation! 
Here  is  the  evidence ! 

[Gives  her  some  tax  receipts] 

MISS  SELWYN 

A  tax  receipt  1 
[Pause] 
I  see !     Out  of  the  class  of  imbeciles 
Including  women,  children,  and  insane ! 

HARDY 

Ha !  Ha !    Your  servant  still ! 

[Bows  mock  heroic] 
[  102] 


THE  UNVEILING 


MISS  SELWYN 

They  are  as  crisp 
As  new-made  money ! 

HARDY 

[Smiling  at  his  success] 

Yes;  and  cost  a  lot 
Of  old !    Four  figures  on  a  tax  receipt 
Mean  ten  or  more  of  property. 

MISS  SELWYN 

You  thus 
Reveal  the  vice  of  men.     Women  care  naught 
For  wealth ! 

HARDY 

Not  even  yachts? 

MISS  SELWYN 

[Eagerly] 

Why,  have  you  one? 

HARDY 

[Laughing] 
I  have !     It  fell  to  me  to-day ! 

MISS  SELWYN 

[Playfully] 

Perhaps,  sometime 
We  may  go  sailing — 

[  103] 


THE  UNVEILING 


HARDY 

[Seriously] 

Yesl 


MISS  SELWYN 

Forgive  me,  Sir, 
An  editorial"  we"! 


HARDY 

No!    No!    I  hold 
You  to  your  promise ! 

MISS  SELWYN 

[Mock  jestingly] 

Pause !    You  must  forget 
The  implications — 

HARDY 

I  do  not  forget  I 


MISS  SELWYN 

[Mock  serious] 
On  this  the  day  of  your  majority? 

HARDY 

[Joyously] 
I  recognize  my  liability! 

[  104] 


THE  UNVEILING 


MISS  SELWYN 

[Apparently  serious] 
And  I  my  indiscretion!     Pardon  me! 
Will  you  not? 

HARDY 

No!  I  hold  you  to  your  promise, 
Likewise  the  implication ! 

MISS  SELWYN 

[Apparently  jesting] 

Be  it  so! 
You  will  not  call  a  scribe  to  put  it  down 
In  writing,  will  you,  Sir? 

HARDY 

[Seriously,  but  feigning  humor] 

Indeed,  My  Lady, 
If  so  it  please  you! 

MISS  SELWYN 

[Mock  serious] 

Sir,  I  think  the  jest 
Has  gone  too  far ! 

HARDY 

[Himself] 

Must  I,  a  modem  man, 
One  up  to  date,  submissively  comply 
With  dull  conventionality,  whether 

1 105  ] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Or  no  ?     If  I  see  fit  to  offer  you 
My  hand,  I  need  not  proffer  you  my  heart 
As  well,  in  this  eugenic  age!    Suffice 
You  know  of  all  the  world,  I  find  in  you 
My  choice,  the  comrade  of  my  life  in  all 
That  wealth  can  buy,  ambition  realize, 
Or  power  attain ! 

MISS  SELWYN 

I  like  the  picture! 

HARDY 


Your  answer  is? 


Then 


MISS  SELWYN 

Yes!    Yes! 


HARDY 

A  sweet,  wise  woman ! 
A  pledge  of  hands  is  all  I  ask  to  bind 
Our  troth  so  simply  made;  but  then  I  leave 
The  triumph  of  the  wedding  day  to  you ! 


MISS  SELWYN 

Wise  man!     And  may  you  ever  be  as  wise 
Surrendering  to  me  what  rightfully 
Belongs  to  woman! 

[io6] 


THE  UNVEILING 


HARDY 
[Enter  Annette] 

As  you  will !    But,  come, 
Let  us  go  celebrate ! 

ANNETTE 

Miss  Denham! 


HARDY 

Ha! 


MISS  SELWYN 

Shall  we  tell  her? 


HARDY 

I  leave  it  all  to  you ! 
[Exit  Annette.    Enter  Miss  Denham. 
Weird  music] 


MISS  DENHAM 

[  Understanding  everything] 
Do  I  intrude? 

MISS  SELWYN 

Not  in  the  least  1 


HARDY 

No!    No! 


[107I 


THE  UNVEILING 


MISS  DENHAM 

[Pretending  to  discover] 
I  fear  I  came — perhaps — Elizabeth — 

[To  Hardy] 
Congratulations ! 

[She  takes  his  hand] 


My  dear! 


MISS  SELWYN 

Not  for  the  public  yet! 
[Kisses  Miss  Denham] 


MISS  DENHAM 

I  am  so  happy — for — you!     Oh,  you  are 
The  luckiest  man  in  all  the  world  to  win 
This  jewel  of  a  woman! 

HARDY 

Thanks!     I  prize 
Her  far  above  the  rarest  jewel  in  the  world, 
My  active  capital  in  Life's  adventure! 

MISS  SELWYN 

Oh,  spare  me,  friends !    Remember,  I  am  mortal ! 

MISS  DENHAM 

But  only  praised  in  lofty  appellations ! 
Ha!  Ha! 

[io8] 


THE  UNVEILING 


MISS  SELWYN 

Excuse  us,  Doris,  will  you  not? 
[Preparing  to  go] 


HARDY 

We  must  away! 

[Preparing  to  go] 


MISS  DENHAM 

Joy  go  with  you! 

BOTH 

[In  doorway] 

Thanks!    Thanks! 
[Exeunt] 

MISS  DENHAM 

[Coming  out  on  the  balcony] 
The  moving  world  is  for  the  one  who  thinks; 
So  in  this  age  'tis  folly  to  entrust 
One's  Fortune  to  the  instincts  of  one's  sex, 
Which  makes  one  do,  by  indirection,  things 
The  women  of  the  future  will  accomplish 
Without  the  coquetry  of  maidenly 
Reserve,  which  even  now  is  understood. 
As  if  it  said :     I  want  what  I  pretend 
To  shim!    So  one  must  live  by  thinking,  shrewdly, 
[  109  J 


THE  UNVEILING 


Else  meet  with  failure,  doing  adroitly 
The  things  success  requires ! 

[Weird   music.     Exit    right.     Enter 
left  Ahriman  and  Ormazd] 

AHRIMAN 

An  opportunist! 
Another  triumph  of  the  pow'r  of  thought, 
For  her!    But  what  of  him?     His  Fate  is  Man's 
In  general!    Ha!  Ha! 

ORMAZD 

Nature  protects 
The  individual  through  mind,  the  species 
Through  feeling,  so  there  is  a  conflict,  check! 
The  way  to  live  and  be  successful  is 
To  live  by  thought,  not  that  Man  should  oppose 
The  Race,  but  serve  it  in  the  highest  way! 

AHRIMAN 

The  irony  of  things!    But  what  of  her? 

ORMAZD 

Being  a  woman,  she  attempts  with  heart 

And  mind  to  live  by  thought  the  feelings  Nature 

Gave  her! 

AHRIMAN 

We  promised  him — 
[no] 


THE  UNVEILING 


ORMAZD 

No !    Not  success, 
But  only  that  avoidance  of  sure  failure 
Which  Evil  brings! 

AHRIMAN 

Ha!  Ha!    Some  more  of  Fate's 
Poor  jesting!    Ha!  Ha!  Ha!  Ha!  Ha! 

ORMAZD 

Mankind 
Has  no  conception  that  between  the  Race 
And  individual  lies  the  end  which  Life 
Strives  for !    This  is  the  reason  why  the  Race 
Does  not  succeed  in  rearing  up  a  worid 
That's  stationary;  the  individual  one 
That  moves! 

AHRIMAN 

I  think  that  Nature  cheats  them  both ! 

ORMAZD 

Is  Man  not  Nature  in  another  form — 

Another  Nature  built  in  miniature; 

And  yet  containing  all  there  is  of  Nature? 

AHRIMAN 

No !    You  would  better  say  the  mockery  of  Nature ! 
For  Man,  fool  Man,  will  not  be  satisfied 
With  simple  Truth;  but,  like  the  spoiled  child 

[III] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Must  have  his  dream,  regardless  of  its  truth, 
And  willing  tribute  pays  to  be  deceived ! 
While  in  the  case  of  love,  he  dupes  himself  1 
You  can  tell  him  what  Nature  is  forever, 
And  he  will  always  take  a  dream  instead ! 


ORMAZD 

I*m  not  so  sure  of  that ! 

AHRIMAN 

That's  what  I  fear! 
[Weird  music.     Exeunt  Ormazd  and 
Ahriman  left.     Enter  Miss  Denham 
and  Waring  right] 

WARING 

That's  what  she  said ! 

MISS  DENHAM 

This  makes  the  thousandth  time 
You've  told  me  of  her  cruelty  to  you ! 

WARING 

Forgive  me,  will  you  not  ? 

MISS  DENHAM 

You  weep  for  what 
Is  best !     Some  day  when  you  are  free,  yourself 
Again,  recovered  fully  from  your  folly, 
You  will  bless  God,  He  saved  you  from  yourself! 

[112] 


THE  UNVEILING 


WARING 

With  your  assistance,  my  good  friend! 

MISS  DENHAM 

I  do 
Confess  my    part,   confess — [confused] — that  is — 

WARING 

You  mean 
That  as  her  confidant,  you  plead  for  me? 

MISS  DENHAM 

[Composed] 
No,  rather  as  your  friend,  I  took  your  part ! 

WARING 

[Deeply  moved] 
My  friend,  how  can  I  ever  compensate 
You  for  your  kindness? 

MISS  DENHAM 

[With  feigned  emotion] 

Friendship  keeps  no  books ! 
I  will  explain !     No  man  can  know  the  pain 
With  which  a  woman  looks  upon  the  worid ! 
She  is  so  circtunscribed  by  sex ;  so  schooled ; 
When  favored  by  inheritance  is  poor; 
But  when  deserted  by  this  worid  of  Chance, 
Standing  alone  amidst  th'  tmcertainty 
»  [113I 


THE  UNVEILING 


Of  life,  that  fools  seem  fitted  to  o'ercome, 
The  wonder  is,  she  does  not  kill  herself 
In  her  despair  of  finding  justice  in  the  world! 
My  friend,  believe  me  when  I  say  my  loss 
Of  self,  in  helping  you,  was  selfish,  not 
The  kindly  action  you  now  credit  it ! 

WARING 

I  was  a  boor  to  thrust  my  pain  upon 
Another  when  that  other  suffered  more 
Than  I  myself! 

MISS  DENHAM 

[The  same] 

Forbear,  my  friend,  forbear! 

WARING 

It  must  be  grand  to  have  a  woman's  heart ! 

MISS  DENHAM 

[With  real  feeling] 
It  is  sublime  to  be  a  man !     To  breast 
The  world !     To  make  your  way !     To  choose  your 

life! 
To  say :     This  will  I  do !    This  throw  aside ! 
A  conqueror,  a  god!     Poor  woman  sits 
At  home,  awaits  what  comes,  denied  the  right 
Even  to  speak  her  likes !     What  good  in  life 
Is  served  by  this  injustice,  cruelty  ? 
[H4] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Chir  hearts  are  broken,  ambitions  thwarted, 
The  world  pays  no  attention  to  our  cries ! 
More  piire  hypocrisy  is  given  women 
Than  all  the  worid  beside !     If  in  defense, 
We  use  adroit  dissimulation,  then 
The  sex  is  false !    What  can  we  do  ?    The  worid 
Is  made  by  man  for  man,  e'en  Nature  seems 
Against  woman! 

WARING 

[Admiringly] 

You  sorrow  for  your  sex! 
I  know  that  one,  with  heart  so  tender,  must 
Pay  tribute  to  the  world  in  woe  beyond 
The  lot  of  others !     I  see  a  light  shine  through 
Your  words  that  shows  a  sadness  all  your  own; 
And  no  amount  of  sympathy  for  woman 
Will  ever  reach  the  pain  that  you  deplore ! 
And  so  I  ask  to  be  your  friend,  to  share 
With  you  the  pain  that  preys  unseen,  and  robs 
You  of  the  joy  of  living! 


MISS  DENHAM 

[Almost  weeping] 

That  matters  not ! 


WARING 

But  then  it  does! 

[1151 


THE  UNVEILING 


MISS  DENHAM 

[Giving  way] 

The  burdens  of  the  heart 
Cannot  be  born  by  others !    This  is  Fate ! 

WARING 

A  seeming  truth,  my  friend !     The  blow  of  Death 

Is  somehow  softened  when  another  heart 

Is  leveled  with  our  own  in  sympathy ! 

The  speechless,  clasping  hands  are  wings 

To  lift  us  up  into  a  world  above  ourselves 

Enabling  us  to  cast  upon  the  Race 

Our  sorrow!     Count  me  as  one  who  offered  help, 

A  brother,  friend  [takes  her  hand]  to  be  to  you  more 

than 
A  friend — be — well — [pauses]   Let  time    decide — 

[pause]     My  friend. 
The  thing  the  world  must  next  secure  for  all 
Is  opportunity  to  realize 
Just  what  we  are !     All  else  in  life  is  futile, 
Is  nothing  in  comparison ! 

MISS  DENHAM 

Poor  woman 
Will  then  receive  the  things  the  world  denies 
And  Nature  has  prevented  her  achieving 
Throughout  the  ages! 

[1161 


THE  UNVEILING 


WARING 

Friend,  count  me  as  one 
To  favor  this  great  cause  till  Justice  crowns 
Itself  in  crowning  woman,  this  as  some 
Repa)mient  of  the  good  that  I  owe  you ! 

MISS  DENHAM 

[Determining  to  make  it  personal] 
No  debt,  instead,  a  joy ! 


WARING 

'Tis  I  to  judge! 
The  obligation  shall  be  paid  in  full 
With  interest,  principal,  and  good-will! 

MISS  DENHAM 

[Breaking  down] 

Meanwhile, 
Poor  woman  sobs  out  her  heart  against  the  wall! 
[Covers    her    eyes.     Weird    music. 
Lights  waver] 

WARING 

Not  while  the  Mother  lives  in  man !    I  ask 
To  share  your  pain  by  asking  you  to  share 
My  life!     I  bring  to  you  a  heart  of  purity, 
Not  virgin  in  its  love,  but  chastened  so 
Its  door  is  open  to  the  world  that  misses, 
As  it  has  missed,  the  chief  desire  in  life; 
["71 


THE  UNVEILING 


Yet  finds  within  the  common  loss  a  boon 
To  solace  it  with  what,  in  God's  wide  plan, 
Will  bring  as  much  of  Good  into  the  world: 
For  Reason  tells  us  that  the  sum  of  joy 
In  life  is  parceled  equally  to  all ; 
And  they  who  find  it  wild  in  love  are  not 
The  better  paid  than  they  who  cultivate 
It  in  the  flow'r  of  human  kindness ! 

[He  looks  front  as  if  in  a    partial 
trance] 


MISS  DENHAM 

Ah! 
To  triumph — 

[Catches  herself  and  acts  her  triumph] 


WARING 

[Still  entranced] 

— is  the  aim  that  lies  before 
Us  now ! 

MISS  DENHAM 

I  am  so — 

[Catches  herself  and  acts  her  happiness] 

WARING 

[Still  entranced] 

— willing  to  entrust 
It  all  to  God! 

[ii8] 


THE  UNVEILING 


MISS  DENHAM 

[Controlling  herself] 
This  answers  your  philosophy! 
[He  puts  his  arm  about  her  protectingly. 

She  rests  her  head  on  his  shoulder 

and   sobs  for  joy.     Weird   music. 

Exeunt  left.     Enter  Ahriman  and 

Ormazd  right] 


I  pity  woman 


ORMAZD 


AHRIMAN 

Ha,  then  it  is  catching, 
For  that's  his  int'rest  in  her! 

ORMAZD 

Too  true!     He  prayed 
To  know  the  Truth,  and  we  have  shown  it  him ! 

AHRIMAN 

The  Future  seen  in  these  first  steps,  let  us 
Ttim  to  the  end,  as  men  thumb  leaves,  and  skip 
The  tedious  hours  of  reading,  so  may  we 
As  Gods,  escape  the  drag  of  living,  pass 
In  one  brief  hour  good  twenty  years ! 

ORMAZD 

Nay !    Rather  let  us  view  their  Future  lives 
In  vision ! 

[Ii9l 


THE  UNVEILING 


AHRIMAN 
What  shall  we  honor  first  ? 
[Weird  music] 

ORMAZD 

The  double  wedding  where  their  lot  is  chosen ! 

[Ahriman  lifts  arm  and  all  is  dark. 
There  is  a  rumbling  as  if  something 
is  moving,  not  unlike  that  of  wings, 
with  weird  dreamlike  music.  Light 
gradually  comes  on  and  the  Gods  can 
he  seen  as  spectators.  Bright  lights 
appear  in  the  sorority  house.  Sub- 
dued music,  which  changes  to  wedding 
march.  Suddenly  the  double  wed- 
ding of  Miss  Selwyn  and  Hardy  and 
Miss  Denham  and  Waring  is  pre- 
sented as  a  living  picture.  All  the 
college  is  present.  After  a  moment 
darkness  ensues  instantaneously] 

[There  is  a  muffled  sound  as  if  flitting 
of  wings  amidst  dreamlike  music. 
Suddenly  there  is  silence  and  a 
faint  light  appears  on  the  stage. 
Weird  music] 

ORMAZD 

Ten  years  have  flown!     Let's  see  the  fruit  of  folly! 

[Weird  music.     The  stage  is  lighted 

with  a  totally  different  kind  of  light. 

[  120  ] 


THE  UNVEILING 


There  are  some  changes  to  show  the 
flight  of  time.  Off  to  the  left  the 
Fool  is  sitting  on  the  top  of  a  foun- 
tain, very  drunk,  fishing,  and  as  the 
lights  come  on^  he  sings] 


FOOL 

And  here  I  sit  from  day  to  day ! 

Oh,  sing  hi  ho!  Oh,  sing  hi  ho! 
And  fish  my  precious  life  away! 

Oh,  sing  hi  ho!     Oh,  sing  hi  ho! 

The  world  it  laughs  at  me  a  bit ! 

Oh,  sing  hi  ho!  Oh,  sing  hi  ho! 
But  it  can't  see  that  I  am  it ! 

Oh,  sing  hi  ho!    Oh,  sing  hi  ho! 

[Looks  at  his  shadow  in  the  fountain] 

Ah,  now  I  see  who  holds  me  here! 

Oh,  sing  hi  ho!  Oh,  sing  hi  ho! 
It  is  this  fellow  whom  I  fear ! 

Oh,  sing  hi  ho!     Oh,  sing  hi  ho! 

[Rises  and  wabbles  from  drunkenness] 

But  watch  me  lay  him  on  the  shelf ! 
Oh,  sing  hi  ho!    Oh,  sing  hi  ho! 

[Strikes  at  his  shadow  and  falls  into 
thefountain] 

11211 


THE  UNVEILING 


Too  late !     Too  late !     It  is  myself ! 
Oh,  sing  hi  ho!     Oh,  sing  hi  ho! 

[Weird  music.  Darkness.  There  is 
heard  again  a  seeming  flitting  of 
wings.  Music  becomes  dreamlike 
and  full  of  love.  A  faint  light  comes 
on  the  stage] 

ORMAZD 

Another  decade  flown,  let's  look  again 

And  see  what  Time  has  brought! 

[A  light  appears  in  the  loggia  at  the 
right.  It  is  changed  to  show  the 
flight  of  twenty  years.  Miss  Waring^ 
the  daughter  of  Waring,  and  other 
young  girls  appear.  In  the  loggia 
on  the  left  young  Hardy,  the  son 
of  Hardy,  is  seen  as  a  living  picture. 
All  the  young  persons  are  dressed 
as  in  the  fourth  Act  of  the  play. 
Music  very  beautiful] 

MISS    WARING 

[Sings] 
Life  was  a  day  I  passed  in  play! 

It  had  no  end  or  aim; 
For  it  did  seem  to  be  a  dream 
The  day  before  love  came ! 
[  122] 


THE  UNVEILING 


No  wider  hope  was  in  its  scope, 
The  Future  shown  the  same; 

But  Nature  spoke  and  I  awoke 
The  day  on  which  love  came! 

Then  every  hour  was  full  of  power 

Beyond  all  words  to  name! 
And  after  this  all  life  was  bliss. 
The  day  on  which  love  came! 

[Lights  disappear  at  the  end  of  the 
music  and  the  Gods  are  seen  in  a 
faint  light  which  gradually  increases] 

AHRIMAN 

The  time  has  now 
Arrived  to  show  these  mortals  what  it  was 
They  chose,  and  how  presumptuous  they  were  then 
In  thinking  that  they  could  determine  Fate ! 

ORMAZD 

To  show  you  that  the  world  has  reached  the  stage 
At  which  the  Good  will  be  successful,  let 
Us  enter  in  the  life  of  Man  once  more 
And  I  will  prove  it  you ! 

AHRIMAN 

[Weird  music] 

It  can't  be  true! 
It  is  a  dream !    The  Good  succeed  because 

[123] 


THE  UNVEILING 


It  is  the  Good  is  Fortune's  joke;  Love's  dream; 
Hope's  irony !     That  day  will  never  come ! 

ORMAZD 

[Grand  music] 
The  dream  of  Poet,  Prophet,  Saint  is  here ! 
I  hail  the  triumph  of  the  Truth,  the  reign 
Of  Right,  Art,  Justice,  and  Humanity! 

[Effulgent  light.     Sublime  music] 


CURTAIN 


[124] 


ACT  III 


("51 


ACT  III 

The  setting  in  the  center  of  the  stage  is  a  cross- 
section  of  a  National  Convention  of  one  of  the  great 
political  parties  of  the  United  States,  showing  the 
floor  of  the  house  with  a  gallery  extending  around  it. 
In  the  back  of  the  gallery  are  two  large  windows 
through  which  can  be  seen  the  storm  outside.  The 
Chairman  of  the  Convention  is  on  a  raised  platform 
at  the  back  beautifully  ornamented  with  flags,  bunting, 
and  pictures.  The  floor  of  the  house  is  full  of  dele- 
gates, a  number  of  them  being  women.  The  gallery 
is  crowded  with  men,  women,  and  children.  The 
delegates  are  going  about,  and  there  is  much  confu- 
sion. 

To  the  left,  in  front,  is  a  small  room,  made  of  gauze, 
which,  when  unlighted,  shows  as  a  solid  wall.  To  the 
right,  in  front,  is  a  similar  room. 

On  the  right,  in  the  first  box  are  seated  Ormazd 
and  Ahriman.  On  the  left,  are  seated  Mrs.  Waring 
and  Mrs.  Hardy  dressed  as  they  appear  in  the  last 
Act  in  the  characters  of  Athene  and  Artemis,  Grecian 
Goddesses. 

A  brass  band  is  playing  when  the  curtain  goes  up. 
After  a  few  moments  the  center  of  the  stage  darkens 

[127) 


THE  UNVEILING 


and  music  stops.  Light  shines  for  an  instant  about 
Mrs.  Waring  and  Mrs.  Hardy;  then  about  Ormazd 
and  Ahriman. 

ORMAZD 

[Seeing  the  smile  on  Ahriman' s  face] 
Are  you  amused  at  this  ? 

AHRIMAN 

I  rather  think 
The  Evil  One  himself  would  be !     Mankind 
Can  brag  about  its  reason  in  affairs 
Of  State,  but  one  brief  moment  here  belies 
Its  claim.     Instead  of  reason,  feeling  reigns 
Supreme  directed  by  the  sense  of  spoils ! 

ORMAZD 

In  politics  the  Good  divide  on  nothing, 
And  thus  bestow  their  birthright  on  the  Bad, 
Who  use  a  great  discretion  in  their  thought, 
Submerging  issues  in  the  cause,  depending. 
Wolf-like  in  scrambling  for  a  share. 
Winning  a  victory  in  spite  of  Justice ! 
The  Good,  like  loving  dames,  entrust  to  God 
The  special  work  that  they  are  fitted  for! 

AHRIMAN 

Don't  be  so  pessimistic  at  a  jest ! 

[128] 


THE  UNVEILING 


ORMAZD 
[Continuing  his  thought] 
God  helps  the  ones  who  think ;  and  if  the  Good 
Do  not  secure  economy  of  power 
Through  reason,  then  the  Bad,  instinctively, 
Do  prosper  through  the  Law  of  Least  Resistance, 
Thus  wasting  more  than  what  is  saved,  as  one 
Is  to  a  score,  accomplishing  the  ends 
Of  Nature  blindly! 

AHRIMAN 

This  is  the  vice  in  things 
And  will  be  till  Mankind,  unlikely,  seeks 
The  higher  life  through  sacrifice  of  self 
With  motives  greater  than  self-interest — Never ! 

[Weird  music.  Box  darkens.  Light 
appears  in  the  room  at  the  left,  now 
occupied  by  Hardy  and  his  followers 
consisting  of  many  men  and  few 
women.     The  room  is  almost  dark] 

HARDY 

I  tell  you,  men,  the  hour  has  come  to  make 
My  nomination  sure,  a  certainty ! 
Before  you  know  it  some  dark  horse  will  spring 
Into  the  field  and  win ! 


MRS.  POLLOCK 

Impossible ! 
I  129] 


THE  UNVEILING 


HARDY 

Just  what  occurs  in  politics  too  often ! 

WINGFIELD 

Waring  cannot  o'ercome  the  opposition! 
He  is  a  goody-goody,  which  precludes 
Success!    And  what  dark   horse   could  now  be 
named? 

HARDY 

Dr.  Andrews! 

WINGFIELD 

No !    No !    No  scientist 

[Storm  is  heard  faintly] 
Need  ever  hope  to  meet  the  popular 
Demand,  though  ruler  of  a  State  and  famous ! 
Fear  not;  for  Dr.  Andrews  can't  stampede 
This  great  Convention  as  he  could  some  club 
Of  scientists! 

[Storm  increases] 

HARDY 

I'm  not  so  sure  of  that! 
[Weird  music] 

MRS.  VAN  SCHUSTER 

The  danger  is  in  Waring's  oratory  I 
[  130  1 


THE  UNVEILING 


WINGFIELD 

If  we  stand  pat  for  Hardy,  who  can  break 
Our  deadlock? 

HIGGINS 

That's  the  question,  gentlemen. 
No  man  can  be  defeated  when  ahead; 
And  we  are  gaining  slowly  all  the  time! 


HARDY 

[Storm  is  heard  distinctly] 
Get  busy!     Do  you  hear?     Remember  I  am  out 
A  million  dollars!     Men,  get  busy! 

[Exeunt  delegates.    Enter  Fool.    Weird 
music] 


FOOL 

Had  I 
A  himdred  plunks  I  know  a  delegate 
I  can  control ! 

HARDY 

[Disgusted  and  irritated] 
I'd  like  to  see  the  man 
A  dnmken  lout  like  you  could  handle! 
[Storm  increases] 

11311 


THE  UNVEILING 


FOOL 
[Amazed] 

Eh? 
A  drunken  lout?  Perhaps,  when  it's  too  late 
You'll  see! 

HARDY 

[Storm  breaks] 
Take  that  and  go ! 
[Throws  him  money] 

FOOL 

[Weird  music] 

[Fool  picks  money  off  the  floor,  snarling 
like  a  dog.     The  storm  rages] 

I'll  take  your  money, 
And  your  insult,  not  being  man  enough 
To  reject  the  one,  or  to  resent  the  other ! 
However,  this  is  not  the  end !    Remember ! 

[Goes  out  amidst  the  roar  of  the  storm 
and  weird  music.  Lights  appear 
in  the  room  at  the  right.  Weird 
music.  It  is  occupied  by  Waring 
and  his  supporters,  about  evenly 
divided  as  to  sex] 

CONYERS 

Go  in,  expose  the  bribery,  stampede 
The  delegates! 

[  132] 


THE  UNVEILING 


WARING 

'Tis  easy  said! 


SHIRAS 

Deadlocks 
Cannot  be  broken  save  by  some  sensation ! 


WARING 

How  spring  it  ? 

SHIRAS 

Why,  leap  to  a  chair,  cry  treason, 
While  wildly  brandishing  the  bribe  aloft ! 
I  will  propose  a  motion  to  expel 
Suspected  delegates !    This  will  create 
A  storm! 

WARING 

Agreed ! 

[Exeunt  delegates  at  back.  The  Fool 
breaks  into  the  room  at  the  side  just 
as  the  delegates  are  going  out.  They 
don't  want  him  to  know  what  they 
are  going  to  do] 

You  understand? 

SHIRAS 

[In  doorway] 

We  do! 
[Exit] 

[  133  1 


THE  UNVEILING 


FOOL 

Oh,  stratagems!     I'm  with  you  though!     Count 

me! 
I'm  low —    A  deadbeat,  drunken  wastrel,  I! 
But  never  yet  so  low  that  I  would  take 
Hush  money  for  an  insult !     No ! 

WARING 

[Looking  intently  at  Fool] 

'Tis  years 
Since  we  were  students ! 

FOOL 

Yes;  colleagues  together — 

WARING 

Discussing  sin,  theology — 

FOOL 

Theology  ? 

WARING 

Why,  yes!     Don't  you  remember  how  disturbed 
You  were  about  your  soul?     Afraid  to  hear 
Of  Evil,  let  alone  be  guilty  of  it ! 

FOOL 

[Remembering] 

Yes! 
'Twas  years  ago ! 

[134] 


THE  UNVEILING 


WARING 

Then  your  theology- 
Has  not  protected  you? 

FOOL 

It  has!    At  first, 
I  thought  I  would  be  good  continuously; 
But  that's  impossible;  so  I  dismissed 
The  matter  by  resolving  to  die  good — 
The  beauty  of  theology  above 
Philosophy ! 

WARING 

No  matter  how  you  live? 

FOOL 

There  is  much  mercy  in  theology ! 
If  well  paid,  'tis  more  jealous  of  belief 
Than  morals !     Hence,  no  man  surpasses  me 
In  Orthodoxy  now —    But  in  the  name 
Of  Satan,  why  discuss  theology — 

WARING 

[Preparing  to  leave] 
How  can  I  argue  politics  with  you? 
[Exit] 

[  135  1 


THE  UNVEILING 


FOOL 

[After  Waring] 
Hardy  and  I  are  out !     I  wish  to  do 
Him  dirt,  await  my  opportunity ! 


SHIRAS 

[In  doorway] 
That  you  shall  have ! 


A  man! 


FOOL 

And  I  will  meet  it  like 

[Exeunt.  Lights  go  out.  Weird 
music.  Lights  appear  in  the  Con- 
vention. The  storm  can  he  heard 
faintly.  Confusion  gradually  in- 
creases] 


CHAIRMAN 

[Rapping] 
Let  us  have  order,  Gentlemen,  order ! 


CONYERS 

Mr.  Chairman ! 


CHAIRMAN 

[Rapping] 

Order!     I  recognize 
The  delegate!    Order!    You  have  the  floor! 
[136] 


THE  UNVEILING 


CONYERS 

[Leaping  to  a  chair  wildly] 
I  have  been  offered  money  as  a  bribe ! 

[Weird  music.  Great  confusion. 
Storm  breaks  out] 

WARING 

[On  a  chair  in  a  lull] 
By  whom? 

MRS.  POLLOCK 

Speak  out ! 

MRS.  VAN  SCHUSTER 

Expose  the  villain  now! 

CHAIRMAN 

[Rapping.     Storm  increases] 
Order!    Let  him  proceed!    We  must  have  order! 
[Rapping] 

CONYERS 

[Earnestly] 
See !     I  show  you !    What  do  you  think  of  that  ? 

[Shows  bills.  Weird  discordant  music. 
Storm  increases.  Lightning  flashes. 
The  room  darkens.  Clouds  come 
in  at  the  windows.     Confusion] 

CHAIRMAN 

[Rapping  continuously] 
But  name  the  briber ! 

[1371 


THE  UNVEILING 


DELEGATES 

[Wildly] 

Yes ;  name  him !    Expose  him ! 


Order! 


CHAIRMAN 

[Rapping  continuously] 
[Confusion  somewhat  abates] 


CONYERS 

[Impressively] 
I  am  the  last  falsely  to  charge 
Some  one !     This  envelope  was  given  me 
By  one  of  Hardy's  henchmen! 

[There  is  a  great  roar  of  disapproval. 
Weird  music.  The  storm  becomes 
violent.  Clouds  come  in  at  the 
windows] 


CHAIRMAN 

[Rapping  continuously] 

Order! 

HARDY 

I 

Denounce  this  as  a  trick  to  ruin  me ! 

[Applause   and   groans.     Music   dis- 
cordant.    Lightning 

[  138  ] 


THE  UNVEILING 


CHAIRMAN 
[Rapping] 
Order! 

HARDY 

What  man  of  sense  would  think  of  such 
An  idiotic  way  of  bribing  men  ? 

FOOL 

[Jumping  to  a  chair] 
You  would ! 

[Sensation.  Discordant  music.  Storm 
intense.  It  flashes  lightning,  and 
clouds  come  in  at  the  windows  mak- 
ing the  room  almost  dark.  Great 
confusion] 

CHAIRMAN 

[Rapping  continuously] 

Men,  order,  order!  * 

HARDY 

[Angrily] 

I  demand 
That  fooFs  arrest! 

[There  is  a  solitary  rumble  of  thunder] 

FOOL 

Which  fool,  yourself  or  me? 
[Discordant    music.     Uproar.     Storm 
increases.     Lightning] 
I  139] 


THE  UNVEILING 


CHAIRMAN 
Men,  order,  order,  order,  order,  Mem 
[Rapping  continuously] 

HARDY 

Mr.  Chairman,  I  rise  to  ask  a  question 
Of  privilege! 

[Confusion  abates.     Silent  lightning] 

CHAIRMAN 

[Rapping] 
Proceed !     Proceed ! 


MRS.  POLLOCK 

Hear  him ! 

HARDY 

[Full  of  pathos] 
O,  gentlemen,  hear  me!     Have  not  my  years 
Of  service  to  the  party  merited 
A  better  fate? 

DELEGATES 

Aye !    Aye ! 
[Confusion] 

CHAIRMAN 

Let  him  proceed! 
[  140] 


THE  UNVEILING 


HARDY 
[Silent  lightning] 
Language  cannot  express  the  force  with  which 
I  now  deny  that  I  had  anything 
To  do  with  any  bribe!    The  charge  was  made 

[Roar  of  dissent] 
To  ruin  me !    So  I  demand  a  trial 
Before  my  peers !     If  not  acquitted  then 
I  shall  go,  never  to  return  again ! 
Let  them  produce  the  evidence! 

DELEGATES 

Aye !    Aye ! 
[Discordant     music.      Storm     breaks. 
Lightning.      Clouds    penetrate    the 
room] 

CHAIRMAN 

[Rapping  continuously] 
Men,  order,  order,  order,  order.  Men! 

CONYERS 

[Impressively] 
A  stranger  came  to  me  and  said:     "Take  this 
And  vote  for  Hardy;  it  is  yours;  besides 
Another  package  of  the  same  amount!" 
Dazed-like,  not  knowing  what  to  do,  I  took 
The  parcel,  and  before  I  realized 
What  had  occurred,  the  briber  had  departed! 

[1411 


THE  UNVEILING 


I  opened  up  the  envelope.     You  see, 
It  has  a  thousand  dollars  in  it !    Look ! 

[Great     confusion.      Weird        music. 
Storm  increases] 

HIGGINS 

[Leaping    to    a    chair ^    amidst     the 
confusion] 


Alia! 


[Extreme  confusion.  Storm  terrific. 
Lightning  flashes.  Clouds  come 
into  the  room,  seem  to  he  feeling  for 
Hardy] 

WINGFIELD 

[Amidst  confusion] 
Outrageous ! 

HOFFMEYER 

You  should  name  the  man ! 


DELEGATES 

Aye!    Aye!    No!    No! 

[Music  discordant  and  weird.  Storm 
increases.  Great  confusion.  Light- 
ning runs  around  the  room,  and  in 
the  light,  the  clouds,  having  found 
Hardy,  settle  down  upon  him] 

[142] 


THE  UNVEILING 


CHAIRMAN 

[Rapping  continuously] 

Speak  out !    Give  us  the  facts ! 

SHIRAS 

I  move  you  we  refer  the  matter ! 

[A   roar  of  approval.     Weird  music. 
Stage  darkens] 

CHAIRMAN 

[Rapping] 

Do 
I  hear  a  second  ? 

DELEGATES 

Aye !    Aye !    Aye ! 

CHAIRMAN 

[Rapping] 
In  favor  of  the  motion  answer,  Aye? 

DELEGATES 

Aye!    Aye! 

[Greatly  in  the  majority] 

CHAIRMAN 

While  those  opposed  may  answer,  No ! 

DELEGATES 

No!    No! 


Will  those 


[143I 


THE  UNVEILING 


CHAIRMAN 
I  now  declare  the  motion  carried ! 
[Tremendous  demonstration ,  discord- 
ant music,  the  lights  are  obscured 
by  the  penetrating  clouds.  The  light- 
ning runs  about  the  room  making 
phantoms  of  the  clouds,  ending  in 
weird  darkness  and  silence.  Lights 
appear  in  Hardy's  room.  Weird 
sad  music.  The  room  is  almost 
dark] 

HARDY 

[Rain  begins  to  fall] 
A  miracle  can't  nominate  me  now ! 

WINGFIELD 

Don*t  be  downcast!    There's  nothing  gained  in 
that! 

HIGGINS 

The  fight  has  just  begun !    Be  brave  and  steadfast ! 

HOFFMEYER 

The  women  have  deserted  us  I 


HIGGINS 
[  144  1 


Good  riddance ! 


THE  UNVEILING 


HARDY 

Men,  if  we  lose,  I  hope  that  Waring's  not 
Successful!  .  .  .  And  after  all  I've  suffered!  Ah! 
[Rain  pours.  Throws  himself  on  a 
table  in  convulsive  grief.  Weird 
music.  Lights  go  out.  Followers 
stand  in  silence.  Lights  appear 
in  Waring's  room.  Lights  are 
bright,  and  while  the  music  is  weirdy 
it  is  not  painful] 

WARING 

In  beating  Hardy,  have  I  not  defeated 
Myself? 

SHIRAS 

Do  not  give  up  just  yet! 

WARING 

Why  not? 
If  circumstances  point  to  some  one  else, 
Why  not  join  forces  with  that  one,  for  next 
To  having  won  is  that  your  cause  succeeds ! 

CONYERS 

So  then  *tis  settled ! 

WARING 

Yes ;  let  us  go  in ! 
[Lights  go  out  in  Hardy's  room.    Weird 
music.   Lights  appear  in  the  Convene 
[  145  1 


THE  UNVEILING 


tion.  Storm  can  be  heard  in  the 
distance.  Chairman  is  rapping  for 
order] 

FOOL 

Mr.  Chairman  and  gentlemen :     The  time 

Has  come  when  this  Convention  nominate 

A  candidate,  the  peer  of  any  man 

In  all  the  world  to  be  the  President 

Of  these  United  States ! 

[Great  confusion.  Weird  music  very 
loud.  The  storm  increases  and 
lightning  flashes  over  the  Convention. 
The  Chairman  raps  for  order,  hut  the 
Fool  stands  firmly  to  be  heard] 


HIGGINS 

Let's  throw  him  out ! 


HOFFMEYER 

He  is  a  fool! 

WINGFIELD 

Let's  put  him  out! 


No!    No! 


AUDIENCE 

No!    No! 
[146] 


THE  UNVEILING 


CHAIRMAN 

[Rapping] 
Let  us  have  order,  delegates ! 

[While  the  Fool  is  speaking,  the  storm 
recedes  and  the  room  becomes  light. 
The  music  takes  on  a  tone  0}  gladness] 


Order! 


FOOL 

The  Good  Book  says,  else  you  become 
As  little  children — well,  you  know  the  passage — 
God's  Kingdom  is  not  yours,  exemplifying 
The  power  in  things  the  world  disdains ;  and  so 
Of  men !     I  come  to  name  the  Man  of  Men ; 
I  come  to  name  a  man  abreast  the  age 
In  every  way,  a  scholar,  a  gentleman. 
Successful,  tried,  esteemed!    A  man  the  world 
Has  honored,  and  a  man  who  honors  all 
The  world !     The  first  great  scientist  announced 
As  candidate  for  office,  and  the  first 
To  be  elected,  Dr.  Andrews ! 

[Terrific  applause.  Weird  music  hut 
full  of  gladness.  Sunshine  appears 
among  the  clouds,  and  every  one 
seems  happy.  The  storm  is  heard 
away  in  the  distance.  The  Fool 
directs  the  confusion  as  if  it  were 
music  of  a  new  kind] 
I  name  him  for  the  Presidency 

[147] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Of  these  United  States,  a  patriot, 

And  yet  a  cosmopolitan !     The  first 

Man  ever  qualified  to  fill  the  office ! 

[Still  greater  applause.  Extraordinary 
demonstration.  Weird  music  hut 
full  of  happiness.  The  confusion  is 
a  part  of  the  music  and  when  it 
stops  all  is  dark.  Light  appears  in 
Waring' s  room.  He  is  surrounded 
by  his  followers.  Weird  music,  but 
full  of  sweetness] 

CONYERS 

Don't  be  dejected,  for  another  day- 
May  bring  success;  besides,  at  heart  the  cause 
Has  won ;  for  we  have  named  the  candidate ! 

SHIRAS 

And  he  whom  we  defeat  is  shelved  forever ! 
We're  sure  of  that! 

WARING 

The  one  commodity 
That  can't  be  parceled  out  in  life  is  honor ! 
I've  schooled  myself  to  take  what  comes  because 
The  individual  cannot  decide 
His  fortune,  justice  being  done  to-day 
But  on  an  average!     So,  I'm  satisfied! 
[148] 


THE  UNVEILING 


MRS.  POLLOCK 

Such  rare  philosophy  is  only  found 
Among  the  world's  supremely  great! 

WARING 

It  is 
Not  choice  but  opportunity  that  counts, 
Let  it  be  good  or  bad,  it  is  the  same ! 
*Tis  true  that  we  can  move  from  place  to  place; 
Can  go  and  come ;  seem  free ;  dodge  in  and  out 
Amongst  the  good  and  evil;  but  no  man 
Can  make  events  as  he  would  have  them !    Why, 
The  wisest  fail  where  fools  sometimes  succeed; 
Because  what's  like  prefers  its  kind  always, 
Failure  occurring  through  superior  worth ! 
The  best  of  life  is  not  within  ourselves 
But  in  that  greater  self  including  all, 
We  name  Humanity!     'Tis  this,  the  struggle 
That's  prompted  by  Religion,  which  impels 
The  Race,  and  furnishes  us  a  living  cause 
That  satisfies  when  Death,  the  tardy  host, 
Invites  us  to  his  house !     I  did  my  best ! 


SHIRAS 


We  all  are  downcast  at  your  failure  I 

MRS.  POLLOCK 

No  man 
Could  be  more  worthy  than  you  are! 

I  149  1 


THE  UNVEILING 


WARING 

Thanks!     Thanks! 
No  matter,  for  in  failure  I  foresee 
Success  for  all  I've  sought  in  life!     What  hope 
Could  promise  more  ?     The  individual 
Is  only  part,  and  should  be  satisfied 
To  see  the  whole  succeed ;  in  finding  joy 
In  its  success,  excelling  infinitely 
All  selfish  glory !    For  'tis  I  who  win, 
If  in  the  victory  that  which  my  life 
Stands  for  is  gained;  and  what  has  happened  now 
Is  this !     Let  us  rejoice  in  that  which  makes 
Us  victors  in  the  triumph  of  the  Good ! 

[Leaves  the  room  with  some  of  his 
followers] 

SHIRAS 

He  thus  submerges  self  and  so  becomes 
Not  only  great,  but  more,  sublime !     The  type 
Of  man  the  trend  of  things  will  yet  produce 
In  all  of  us  when  Nature  has  a  chance ! 

[Leaves  the  room  with  rest  of  delegates. 
Darkness  follows.  Light  appears  in 
Hardy's  room.  Weird  music.  The 
storm  can  he  heard  outside  with  rain] 

HARDY 

[Deep  emotion] 
I  felt  it  from  the  first !     No  tongue  can  tell 
My  utter  woe!     Oh,  men,  men, — men,  you  said 

[150] 


THE  UNVEILING 


That  I  would  win !     Not  one,  but  all !  all !  all ! 
And  at  what  cost  ?     The  world  will  never  know ! 

[Men     draw     back.       Weird     music. 
Lights  darken.     The  rain  begins  to 
fall  gently,  but  distinctly] 
Don't  leave  because  of  my  reproach !     Give  me 
The  bitter  joy  of  blaming  others,  will 
You  not?     Oh,  I  have  paid  you  quite  enough 
To  curse  you,  had  I  it  done  before  I  paid! 
But  now  you  stand  impatient  to  be  gone, 
Not  courteous  to  my  anguish !     Go !    Avaunt ! 
What  care  you  now?     I  am  a  mariner 
Washed  overboard  at  sea !     One  man  less — God ! 
There  will  be  plenty  people  left,  think  you! 
And  yet  but  yesterday  I  seemed  to  grasp 
The  Presidency  of  these  United  States ! 
Oh,  as  the  aviator  in  the  clouds 
Seems  first  of  men,  then  falls  a  senseless  thing 
Down  to  the   Earth,   am    I!      No,   worse!      He 

does 
Not  live  to  see  the  thing  he  is ;  to  hear 
The  heartless  words  of  jest ! —    A  precipice 
So  high,  who  would  have  thought  the  other  side 
So  steep?     No  gentle  fall,  but  one  long  plunge 
To  the  bottom  of  the  depths — oblivion! 
The  utter  sense  of  nothingness  now  comes! 
How  can  I  live?    How?     How? 

[Falls  on  the  table  in  convulsive  sobs. 
The  rain  pours  and  his  followers 

1 151] 


THE  UNVEILING 


slip  out  noiseless  as  shadows.     Faint 
weird  music] 

HARDY 

[  Uncovering  his  eyes] 

Alone?    Alone! 
Oh,  at  the  closing  of  my  pain-racked  eyes 
You  steal  away!     What  shall  I  call  you?     What? 
You  have  no  honor,  only  use;  and,  when  once  used 
Despised  for  being  of  no  further  use?     Friends? 

Friends ! 
No !     Devils !     Devils !     Devils !     For,  devoid 
Of  human  sympathy,  you  pick  and  gnaw 
The  skeleton  of  my  ambition  bare. 
Then  slink  away !    Ah !    Ah ! 

[Screams  terrifically,  and  throws  him- 
self  face  downward.  Weird  music. 
The  room  darkens.  Light  shines 
about  the  Gods] 

ORMAZD 

He  has  the  Truth! 

AHRIMAN 

The  Purpose  in  the  Universe  displays 
Itself  so  poorly,  in  order  that  it  grow 
And  be  subUme  in  Man,  it  must  encounter 
A  trillion  different  shocks  to  hammer  it 
To  recognition! 

11521 


THE  UNVEILING 


ORMAZD 

But  do  not  forget 
The  second  Purpose,  Man,  unconsciously, 
Improves  upon  crude  Nature,  while  supreme 
Perfection  will  not  be  attained  until 
The  third  and  last  attempt.  Society, 
Controls  the  other  two  completely,  then 
The  end  and  aim  of  all  will  be  accomplished! 
Not  Evil,  but  a  studied  opposition 
Will  then  supply  the  impetus  to  action ! 

AHRIMAN 

Many  amusing  things  will  happen  ere 
That  day! 

ORMAZD 

The  most  amusing  of  them  all, 
Your  occupation,  will  be  gone!     Ha!  Ha! 

[Ahriman  catches  himself  as  if  shot 
through  with  pain.  Weird  music. 
It  grows  dark  about  the  Gods] 

[The  Convention  hall  becomes  lighted. 
The  band  is  playing  a  national  air. 
Sunshine  bursts  through  the  windows. 
Men  and  women  are  going  about 
joyously.  Ormazd  and  A  hriman  are 
down  front,  Ormazd  detains  Ahri- 
man from  departing.  Dr.  Andrews 
appears  before  the  audience.     There 

11531 


THE  UNVEILING 


is  prolonged  applause  set  to  music. 
It  rises  gradually  until  it  bursts 
in  a  tremendous  wave,  men  growing 
wild  with  excitement;  then  it  sub- 
sides with  now  and  then  a  rise  in  the 
rhythm  until  it  is  little  more  than 
a  murmur.  During  Dr.  Andrews* 
speech  the  applause  is  part  of  the 
music,  rising  and  falling  at  timeSy 
then  reaching  a  climax  and  subsiding 
at  the  conclusion  in  a  flood  of  light] 

DR.  ANDREWS 

My  Fellow-citizens:     I  do  not  thank 
You  for  the  honor  you  confer  on  me, 
However  great,  not  that!     I  do  not  thank 
You  for  the  happiness  you  bring  to  me, 
However  sweet,  not  that !     But  tongue  cannot 
Express  in  words  my  sense  of  gratitude 
To  you  for  making  me  the  instrument 
Through  which  the  Good  at  last  shall  have  its  day ! 
For  placing  me  where  I  can  use  the  Truth 
To  combat  Error  with ;  at  last  apply 
What  we  have  learned  to  human  living;  thus 
To  make  the  house  of  Hope  a  home  for  all; 
To  smooth  the  road  of  Circumstance,  the  way 
Of  Opportunity,  so  that  his  knock 
May  daily  be,  not  once  for  life !     This  boon, 
The  dream  the  world  has  ever  had,  will  now 
[154] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Come  true;  for  when  Religion  motives  all, 
The  business  of  the  world  will  be  set  free 
From  selfishness;  Hkewise  the  thought;  then  men 
Will  see  that  nothing  else  but  Truth  can  give 
Them  peace;  will  cease  to  reverence  the  Past, 
Will  live  to-day,  the  conscious  hour — this  life — 
The  acme  of  existence  for  the  Earth ; 
And  realize  the  Purpose  of  the  Universe — 
The  Everlasting  Life  of  prophecy, 
For  which  all  Nature  is  a  preparation. 
And  which,  attained,  encompasses  the  Past, 
The  Present,  and  the  Future  in  its  moment — 
The  Riddle  of  the  Universe  be  solved 
At  last,  so  all  can  fully  understand ! 

But  let  us  not  forget  that  every  hurt 
The  Race  has  suffered  in  the  past  is  still 
A  woimd,  because  unfeeling  men  secure 
A  livelihood  by  keeping  it  unhealed! 
To-day  the  whole  of  life,  called  civilized, 
Is  spent  in  paying  tribute  to  our  fears. 
Protecting  hopes,  defending  dreams  which  make 
Us  slaves  to  men  who  work  us  through  our  hearts- 
Men,  like  the  serpent  who  repay  devotion 
With  treachery,  perverting  all  of  life 
By  putting  Evil  in  the  place  of  Good, 
Adroitly  making  Night  appear  as  Day, 
And  boldly  teaching  Ignorance  instead 
Of  Knowledge,  persecuting  Truth  to  death. 
Making  Life's  purpose  in  the  scheme  of  things 
[  155  1 


THE  UNVEILING 


A^  much  unlike  that  which  it  is  as  dream 

And  fact,  a  mockery  from  first  to  last ! 

The  common  man  has  no  conception  what 

Life  is !     He  is  a  host  to  feed  this  world 

Of  ruling  parasites.     That  which  he  gets 

To  what  he  will  some  day  receive  on  Earth 

May  justly  be  compared  with  Hell  and  Heaven ! 

But  from  this  hour  our  fight  will  be  against 

This  curse  of  superstition,  as  disease 

Which  robs  the  Race  of  mental-moral  health; 

Deprives  us  of  a  knowledge  what  we  are, 

Making  existence  farcical  in  aim, 

Instead  of  all  there  is  summed  in  ourselves ! 

I  thank  you  for  this  opportunity 
To  speak  this  fact  to  fifty  million  ears ! 
No  matter  how  bejeweled  words  may  be; 
Or  flowered;  or  how  sweet,  how  beautiful 
The  music  that  they  hover  in ;  the  dress 
That  shows  them  off — 'tis  all  one  with  the  world; 
Only  that  voice  is  listened  to  which  Fortune 
Throws  to  the  top,  no  matter  how  or  where ! 

The  day  will  come  when  Man  will  fight  for  heat, 
For  air !     It  is  a  preparation  for 
This  struggle  that  we  now  begin !    Think  you 
That  we  will  then  let  Greed  and  Creed  divide  us? 
No!     Every  Race  will  be  akin,  the  world 
One  nation,  and  controlled  by  thought  and  knowl- 
edge. 
And  motived  by  that  Power  which  alone 

[156] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Can  bind  the  Race  together  in  one  State — 

Religion — not  the  misdirected  force 

Which  now  disturbs  Humanity,  instead, 

That  Power  seen  throughout  all  Nature,  which 

Binds  things  together,  makes  the  Universe 

One  thing !     Know  this :     No  matter  how  expressed. 

There  is  but  one  Religion  in  the  world — 

We  see  it  blindly  occupy  the  lives 

Of  men;  sometimes  as  fearful  superstition; 

Sometimes,  fanaticism !     It  may  appear 

A  blind  philosophy  which  shows  the  world 

To  be  a  prison  of  the  soul ;  no  end 

Or  aim  within  itself;  our  life  a  hope, 

Or  dread;  that's  all!     No  actual  living  here. 

But  all  hereafter,  bargained  for  with  tears 

And  groans  in  endless  servitude  of  mind 

And  body — Hell  on  Earth,  if  Heaven  hereafter ! 

This  Failure  fills  the  office  of  Religion 

To-day,  accomplishing  its  ends  by  all 

The  hardships  Nature  uses  to  evolve 

The  heart  and  mind,  the  cruelty  in  life 

That  made  man  think  there  was  a  Devil,  Hell ! 

But  when  Religion  is  directed  rightly, 

'Twill  realize  the  life  destined  for  all; 

'Twill  be  the  last,  the  best,  a  scientific 

Expression  of  the  Deity !     Religion,  then, 

Will  be  the  bolt  of  Jove  turned  to  the  use 

Of  Man  in  sending  messages  of  love ; 

The  poison  wild  in  Nature  medicining  pain ; 

[1571 


THE  UNVEILING 


Disease  a  dark  device  to  further  health ; 

The  plan  of  Nature  made  cooperate 

Through  scientific  knowledge  as  a  guide, 

The  instrument  this  godlessness  produced 

By  Infinite  Design!     To  know  this  truth 

Is  unavoidable  in  the  flow  of  years ; 

For  Nature  educates  through  cruelty; 

Its  only  mercy  pain;  its  favor  Chance; 

Its  privilege  the  Struggle  for  Existence; 

Yet  out  of  it  all  the  tender  heart  of  Man 

Has  grown  which  feels  around  the  world  with  Life 

Since  Life  awoke,  thus  brothering  Man  with  all ! 

When  standing  out  beneath  the  Stars  that  show 
The  glory  of  the  Universe,  'tis  grand 
To  understand  this  pageant  is  but  Man 
Unorganized;  that  not  a  hope  in  us 
But  has  its  origin  in  distant  Suns; 
That  nothing  in  our  lives  exists  except 
It  come  from  Nature;  know  that  we  fulfill 
The  end  and  aim  of  All,  by  living  All 
Within  ourselves!     And  when,  at  night,  you  lie 
Awake,  surprised  that  you  exist,  escaped 
The  cold  of  Space,  the  heat  of  Suns  that  once 
Possessed  the  Earth,  the  accidents  of  Time, 
The  dire  effects  of  Chance  in  ceaseless  Change, 
And  all  the  ills  of  Life,  oh,  what  a  joy 
To  know  that  Death  is  Living,  in  disguise, 
A  grand  device  to  make  Life  reach  perfection. 
So  it  will  be  aware,  not  be  the  dull 

[158] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Existence  of  the  stone  that  lives  and  lives, 

Yet  never  lives ;  attain  the  whole  of  Life 

In  passing  it  to  others,  thus,  at  last 

Possess  the  Everlasting  Life !     This  knowledge 

Transcends  the  hope  of  Immortality, 

And  brings  a  peace  that  nothing  can  destroy! 

It  demonstrates  that  Everlasting  Life 

Is  quality,  and  not  duration;  state, 

And  not  existence ;  years  are  foreign  to  it ! 

It  is  the  consciousness  of  Unity 

With  Nature  blotting  out  both  Time  and  Space 

In  realizing  everything  in  Self 

And  Self  in  everything,  for  you,  for  all ! 

Henceforth,  the  greater  life  will  occupy 
Our  time !     Instead  of  seeking  honor,  fame, 
Power,  the  work  of  life  will  be  to  help 
Our  kind !     To  make  the  whole  Race  glad  in  living 
There  is  a  pleasure  in  a  growing  flower; 
What,  in  a  growing  soul!     There  was  a  joy 
In  bringing  Nature  to  our  rule;  but  what 
Delight  when  all  Humanity  can  go 
Its  way  in  joy,  a  ship  at  sea  unmindful 
The  storm  opposing  circumstances ! 

Man's 
A  world  within  the  factors  of  a  world. 
The  true  creation  which  the  Universe 
Has  sacrificed  all  else  to  make  self-conscious; 
And,  making,  makes  itself;  for  what  would  be 
The  panoply  of  night,  the  light  of  day, 
[1591 


THE  UNVEILING 


If  Man  did  not  interpret  them  to  be 
Himself  in  essence,  Nature  in  a  Part; 
So  that  the  Whole  may  reach  perfection,  Man! 
This  conscious  world  creates  Society, 
Another  world,  it  too  within  our  breasts. 
And  minds,  ending  the  process  in  the  Life 
Immortal  here  on  Earth,  in  which  the  chief 
Delight  will  be  in  knowing  all  there  was, 
And  is  and  will  be  in  the  future  years ! 

We  front  the  world  to-day,  the  first  to  reach 
Enlightenment;  that  social  consciousness 
Which  makes  Mankind  one  Being,  like  in  all 
Its  parts;  so  that  a  hurt  to  one  is  hurt 
To  all!     The  joy  of  one,  the  joy  of  all! 
For  this  accept  my  thanks,  my  gratitude! 

[A  brilliant  light  shines  about  Dr. 
Andrews,  when  the  music  stops, 
Ormazd  is  transfigured  with  light. 
Ahriman' s  face  indicates  his  extreme 
torture.  The  Fool  bows  his  head  in 
contrition.  The  audience  on  the 
stage  gives  expression  of  its  extreme 
joy  by  rising  and  extending  its  arms 
upward  in  thanks] 

CURTAIN 


[160I 


ACT  IV 


[  i6i 


ACT  IV 

The  setting  is  that  of  a  park,  with  fountains;  walks 
running  off  left.  At  the  extreme  upper  left,  is  a 
beautiful  cottage,  made  of  gauze,  invisible  when  not 
lighted.  At  the  upper  right,  is  a  part  of  a  manu- 
factory, running.  It  is  a  beautiful  and  artistic 
building.  At  the  lower  right  front,  is  a  building 
showing  Waring' s  law  office.  At  the  left,  is  a  similar 
building  showing  the  Fool's  law  office. 

The  Fool  is  discovered  talking  to  some  of  his  friends. 
Weird  music.     The  lights  are  not  natural. 

As  Mrs.  Hardy  enters,  the  men  in  the  Fool's  office 
depart. 

MRS.  HARDY 

Is  this  a  lawyer's  office  ? 

FOOL 

Yes;  madam! 

MRS.  HARDY 

I  wish  to  know  just  what  it  takes  to  get 
A  divorce. 

FOOL 

Fifty  dollars! 

[163I 


THE  UNVEILING 


MRS.   HARDY 

You  do  not 
Quite  understand. 

FOOL      * 

Perhaps  I  don't! 

MRS.   HARDY 

What  must 
I  prove? 

FOOL 

Oh,  well,  that's  different! 

MRS.   HARDY 

Give  me 
A  case  to  go  by 

FOOL 

Well,  the  cause  I  think 
Most  frequently  resorted  to  to-day 
Is  cruel  and  inhuman  treatment,  mental 
Or  physical:    He  constantly  provokes  you; 
Goes  days  and  days  without  a  word  of  love; 
All  kindness  is  requited  with  contempt; 
Affection  met  with  scorn;  impossible 
As  it  may  seem,  but  there  is  not  a  moment 
In  which  he  does  not  make  you  feel  he  hates  you ! 
Why,  death  itself  would  be  preferred !   Your  health 
Is  giving  way  through  this  inhuman  treatment ; 
You  cannot  stand  it  longer;  sighs,  then  tears — 
You  understand,  don't  you? 

[164] 


THE  UNVEILING 


MRS.  HARDY 

Quite  SO ! 

FOOL 

For  physical  inhuman  treatment,  well, 
Take  this— 

MRS.  HARDY 

What  you  have  giv'n  is  quite  enough ! 


Your  fee  ? 


FOOL 

Say,  fifty  dollars! 

MRS.  HARDY 

[Giving  him  money] 

Thanks! 


FOOL 

Thanks!    Thanks! 


Good  day! 


MRS.  HARDY 

[Exit] 


FOOL 

Good  day  1     I  could  have  stretched  it  to 
A  hundred  just  the  same!     Huh!      Huh!     Well, 

well. 
I  always  was  a  fool !    And  always  will  be  one ! 

[Enter  Jones  on  crutches,   seemingly 
very  much  crippled] 

[1651 


THE  UNVEILING 


JONES 
Good  morning,  any  news? 


FOOL 

[Goes  to  safe  and  gets  two  large  rolls  of 
bills] 

We  won  our  case ! 
Here  is  five  thousand  dollars ! 


JONES 

[Taking  money  and  straightening  up] 
Thanks! 

FOOL 

I  keep 
A  like  amount! 

JONES 

[Improving  in  his  injury] 
This  ends  it  all,  does  it? 
No  after  daps? 

FOOL 

None !     Money  is  the  end 
And  aim  of  all  law  suits ! 


JONES 

[Takes  crutches  and  throws  them  down, 
stands  erect,   perfectly  sound,   then 
[i66] 


THE  UNVEILING 


starts  for    the    door    counting    his 

money] 

Jack  Cade  to-day 

Would  be  a  lawyer  instead  of  hanging  them ! 
[Stops  outside] 

FOOL 

[Furiously] 

Ingratitude!    Oh,  were  I  Shakespeare  now 

To  name  the  sum  of  thy  iniquity ! 

[Fool  takes  the  crutches,  and  draws 
aside  a  screen  which  displays  a  pile 
of  invalid  chairs,  crutches,  and  canes. 
The  Fool  lays  the  crutches  on  the 
pile  and  whistles  a  funny  air.  When 
he  puts  the  screen  hack,  Jones  slips 
behind  it  thinking  the  Fool  does  not 
see  him] 

FOOL 

[Holding  up  money] 
Descant  about  the  blinded  dupes  of  love, 
Fanatics  of  religion,  yet,  when  looked 
At  with  the  eye  of  reason,  money-men 
Are  dupes  beyond  them  all! 

[Looks  to  see  if  Jones  is  listening] 
From  mom  till  night. 
Not  "dewy  eve" — there  is  no  beauty  there — 
From  night  till  mom ;  for  all  its  slaves  serve  night 
And  day,  the  money-makers  ply  their  game 

[1671 


THE  UNVEILING 


Contemptible !     Stakes  won  or  lost  no  difference, 
The  moil  goes  on !     And  yet  they  call  it  sanity ! 

[Looks  back  at  Jones] 
Unthoughtful  as  decapitated  worms 
Which  battle  with  their  hinder  parts,  convinced 
They  fight  for  life,  and  fight  accordingly — 
Man,  money-mad !     For  he  is  part  of  all, 
And  in  the  end  the  havoc  that  he  causes 
Comes  on  himself!     Unlike  the  worm,  he  lives 
To  keep  himself  from  living !     Money !     Money ! 
The  man  who  does  not  enter  in  the  strife 
Is  measured  by  its  standards,  and  condemned 
As  wanting!     Devil  never  met  success 
More  devilish,  men  engage  in  wrong  more  fruitful ! 

[Looks   back   at   Jones,    who   is   very 
uneasy] 
To  every  drunkard  comes  a  day  when  drink 
Will  not  appease  the  appetite  that  it 
Creates;  and  once  in  all  Life's  years  an  hour 
May  come  when  money's  lust  will  overleap 
Its  bounds  so  much  its  crazed  devotees 
Will  see  the  hell  its  exercise  creates. 
And  Life's  great  possibilities  will  steal 
Upon  them  like  a  child  into  a  miser's  arms ! 

[Jones  tiptoes  out  with  crutches,  crest- 
fallen.    Fool  waves  farewell] 
Money!     It  is  the  chain  with  which  I'm  bound! 

[Acts  as  if  he  is  about  to  destroy  the 
money] 

[i68] 


THE  UNVEILING 


In  breaking  it  my  flesh  must  act  as  anvil ! 

[Pauses] 
Henceforth,  you  are  a  means  and  not  an  end! 
I  go  that  far! 

[Puts  money  in  his  pocket] 
If  others  help  me  not, 
Then  I  am  lost ! 

[Securely  fastens  money  in  his  pocket] 
Of  all  the  vices  men 
Acquire — I  speak  advisedly  with  no  excuse 
To  offer — none  surpass  the  money-game! 
It  partnerships  with  every  other  vice; 
And  ends  by  banking  with  the  virtues !     Huh ! 

[Looks  about,  feels  that  the  money  is 
safe.  Darkness,  weird  music.  Light 
appears  in  Waring's  room.  He  is 
discovered  talking  to  Mrs.  Hardy. 
After  a  moment  the  Fool  appears 
outside  and  listens  to  the  conversation] 

WARING 

Your  story  is  affecting,  but  is  it  best 
To  separate? 

MRS.  HARDY 

I  scarcely  know. 


WARING 
[169] 


Consider  I 


THE  UNVEILING 


MRS.  HARDY 

I  came  to  you,  I  know  not  why !     I  felt 
That  you  would  tell  me  what  was  best  to  do 
In  my  extremity ! 

WARING 

I'm  glad  you  came! 
[The  Fool  is  seen  to  approach  the  out- 
side door  and  listen  to  the  conversa- 
tion, presumably  to  see  whether  or 
not  Mrs.  Hardy  follows  his  instruc- 
tions.    The  effect  of  what  is  said 
can  be  seen  on  his  face] 
Divorce  should  never  be  invoked  until 
All  other  methods  have  been  fully  tried, 
And  then,  like  surgery,  a  last  resort ! 

MRS.  HARDY 

My  life  has  been  so  disappointing ! 

What  else  can  we  expect  when  life  depends 

On  others  ?     Truly  speaking,  woman  has 

No  life,  distinctive,  which  the  world  would  call 

Her  own! 

WARING 

I  fear  you  are  too  pessimistic ! 
To  live  is  joy!     To  breathe  the  air!     To  know 
That  Death  is  but  unconscious  Life !     What  more 
Could  mortal  ask?    To  see  the  Sun  o'ertake 
[  170  ] 


THE  UNVEILING 


The  Dawn !  The  flowers  bloom !   The  children  play ! 

To  hear  the  sounds  of  Nature,  music  yet 

Unspoiled  by  Art !     To  feel  throughout  your  soul 

The  working  of  that  Pow'r  which  makes  us  know 

That  we  are  only  Nature  superfined! 

If  there  was  nothing  else,  this  is  enough 

Of  happiness  to  make  life  worth  the  living ! 

We  know  mind  is  the  memory  of  all 

Of  Life  from  its  beginning  up  to  Man, 

Each  being  adding  its  acquirement,  Nature 

Awakening  in  each  of  us  what  all 

Have  suffered  in  the  School  of  Life  since  Time 

Began;  while  feeling  lives  and  moves  throughout 

The  Universe !    This  is  the  end  of  Nature ! 

To  know  it  is  a  joy  that  counteracts 

All  ills!     Let's  bury  our  frustrated  hopes 

In  knowledge,  which  to  know  is  Life  Eternal ! 

MRS.  HARDY 

You  are  quite  philosophic !    But  when  pain 

Is  shooting  through  your  heart  the  whole  day  long 

The  blooming  of  the  flowers  adds  to  it ! 

The  common  man  wants  not  the  naked  truth, 

But  confirmation  in  his  errors;  so 

It  is  an  added  pain  to  set  him  right ! 

WARING 

If  you  discover  a  supposed  jewel, 
You  do  not  keep  it,  but  cast  it  away ! 

[  171  ] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Pain  only  shows  wrong-living !     Most  of  the  hurts 
Of  this  distressed  world  can  be  avoided ! 
No  matter  what  the  hour,  there's  always  time 
For  better  living !     And  no  life  can  be 
More  sad  than  one  inspired  by  Self  alone ! 
Deride  rude  Duty  as  you  will,  'tis  Love 
Disguised;  and  Pain  is  but  a  cry  for  help; 
While  Conscience  is  a  cruel  friend  who  dares 
To  whisper  us  the  Truth !     And  loss  of  Hope 
Is  sometimes  loss  of  Self,  which  makes  us  seek 
Our  kind,  and  cast  ourselves  upon  the  Race, 
And  thus  acquire  the  greater  Life,  which  lifts 
Us  up,  and  ever  after,  we  are  happy ! 


MRS.  HARDY 

I  said  that  we,  perhaps,  would  meet  sometime. 
And  then  be  friends !     I  little  thought  that  Life 
Would  bring  me  to  this  day;  but  I  have  found, 
When  Love  is  gone,  the  light  of  life  is  dim ! 
It  was  true  friendship  that  I  sought,  a  sense 
To  find  the  way  in  my  benighted  world ! 
And  this  you've  given  me,  my  one  true  friend! 

[Bows  head  in  tears.  Darkness  in 
the  room.  Light  shines  for  a 
moment  about  the  Fool  who  is  deeply 
affected.  Exit  off  left.  Darkness. 
Lights  appear  in  the  park  and 
Ahriman  in  a  dirty  and  ragged  dress 
[  172  1 


THE  UNVEILING 


enters  from  the  upper  left.     The  Fool 
follows  unobserved.     Weird  music] 

AHRIMAN 

[Coming  down  the  stage  limping] 
It  is  a  fool  Philosophy  which  thinks 
To  know  the  right  compels  the  doing  of  it ! 
Why,  that  would  make  me  moral !     Preposterous, 
Isn't  it?     Men  go  the  wrong  way  when  they  know 
The  right  always!     I  could  enumerate 
A  thousand  motives  stronger  far  than  Justice ! 
Out  pessimistic  thought !    Remember  how 
The  Punjab  Indian  preferred  to  carry 
His  barrow  on  his  head  to  trundling  it; 
And  did  so  when  un watched;  because  for  him 
To  fall  and  catch  himself — what  walking  is — 
Suited  his  status  better  than  the  art 
That  Nature  could  not  make — the  wheel — till  it 
Invented  Man!     Men  carry  barrows  on 
Their  heads  in  thinking  now,  and  stones  within 
Their  breasts,  thus  giving  me  my  occupation ! 

[Enter    Victor,   a  boy,   walking  down 
from  left  with  a  book  in  his  hand. 
The  lights  brighten  and  the  music  is 
sweeter,  but  still  weird.     The  Fool 
listens] 
Good-moming,  Son,  know  you  I  represent 
The  New  Society  of  Race  Advancement! 
I  ferret  out  the  worthy,  see  they  are 

[173] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Provided  for.     So  you  love  books !    Your  taste 

[Takes  book] 
Henceforth,  shall  be  looked  after! 

VICTOR 

Sir,  you  know 
Our  motto  is :    Whate'er  you  have,  sell  half 
Of  it  and  buy  books !     They  contain  the  laws 
Of  living —     Nay,  much  more,  the  Race's  mind ! 
To  live  you  must  possess  them  as  your  life! 
Nature  did  much  for  Man !    She  could  not  give 
Him  knowledge,  for  it  changes  as  the  mind 
Develops,  so  Society  makes  good 
The  fault,  inventing  books  to  perfect  life ! 

AHRIMAN 

[Dumfounded] 
Your  being  young,  perhaps,  you  would  prefer 
To  go  away  to  school,  seek  knowledge.  Art, 
Society,  the  life  of  youth  within 
Some  University  renowned  for  sport — 

VICTOR 

The  seeker  after  knowledge  needs  no  teacher 

When  adolescence  is  well  passed,  except 

Himself!     The  world's  great  thinkers   point  the 

way, 
Are  great  because  of  method  more  than  merit ! 

[Ahriman  throws  up  his  hands  in  fail- 
ure.    Enter  from   upper   left    Vic- 
"  [  174  1 


THE  UNVEILING 


toriGt  a  beautiful  young  girl  plainly 
dressed.     The  Fool  still  listens] 

AHRIMAN 

[To  Victoria] 
May  I  engage  your  interest  in  the  world 
Of  fashion?     It  has  a  thousand  things  of  Art 
That  you  should  have !     It  is  a  tragedy 
That  beauty  such  as  yours  should  go  unprized 
And  want  advertisement  in  jewels,  gowns — 

VICTORIA 

Real  beauty  is  within,  is  mental,  not 
Outside  adornment ! 

AHRIMAN 

A  doctrine  preached 
By  plainness,  quite  unfitting  you! 

[Victoria  looks  at  him  in  amazement, 
then  joins   Victor  and  they  go  off 
right.     Enter   Mitchell,   a   common 
man,  from  left  upper  entrance] 
Perhaps, 
Good  Sir:     I  can  gain  your  support.     I  have 
A  scheme  to  make  tmtold  wealth  1 

MITCHELL 

Wealth?     I  ask. 
Should  anyone  desire  wealth  now  ?    The  Race 
Has  entered  on  its  higher  life,  and  things 
[1751 


THE  UNVEILING 


Are  prized  to-day  not  on  the  savage  plane, 
But  of  Humanity,  intelligence ! 
The  modern  cannibal,  the  living  off 
Instead  of  on,  the  common  man  no  more 
Exists!    You  must  be  of  the  days  long  gone; 
Or  else  a  remnant  of  the  underworld ! 

[Mitchell  walks  off  right  as  if  insulted] 


AHRIMAN 

My  occupation !    Oh,  my  occupation ! 

[Weird  music.  Limps  off  right.  The 
Fool  follows  him  dumfounded. 
Enter  Boyce  and  Conger  from  the 
manufactory] 


BOYCE 

[Dressed  as  a  soldier] 
They  are  distinguished  visitors  to  have 
The  President  show  them  about! 


CONGER 

[Dressed  as  a  clerical] 

The  dress 
Of  one  is  such  that  you  would  think  him  not 
Distinguished  for  advancement ! 

[176] 


THE  UNVEILING 


BOYCE 

Well,  perhaps, 
Not  so !    But  what  one  lacks  the  other  makes  up ! 
[Enter    Fool   from    the    manufactory 
looking  for  some  one] 
Here  is  another  stranger,  let  us  ask 
Him  if  he  knows  the  visitors.     Good  Sir, 
Which  way? 

FOOL 

How  pertinent  your  question  is; 
And  yet  who  asks  it?     Ah!    Which  way?     My 

way? 
It  is  the  whole  world's  way ;  and  yet  the  world 
And  I  have  reached  the  time  when  we  must  part ! 


CONGER 

What  mean  you,  Sir? 

FOOL 

You  asked,  Who  are  the  strangers, 
The  visitors,  and,  why  the  President 
Wotdd  deign  to  occupy  his  time  with  them? 
They  are  not  men,  but  Gods!     One  represents 
The  Light  of  Life,  the  other,  Darkness;  I, 
The  World,  have  found  them  out!    Ten  thousand 

things 
I  never  understood  now  stand  out  clear 
To  me;  and  all  because  at  last  I've  reached 
[177I 


THE  UNVEILING 


The  one  true  point  of  view;  attained  the  vision 
That  sees  the  One  in  Many,  Many  in  One ! 


CONGER 

Your   dress   betrays   you,    Sir!    Oh,    treacherous 
dress !  , 

FOOL 

Not  only  that,  but  it  is  quite  enough — 

For  there  is  dress,  and  dress,  and  yet  a  dress, 

Covering  the  whole  of  life,  which  will  not  off 

No  matter  how  your  soul  may  struggle,  you 

Be  cramped  beside  the  which  my  garb,  bemocked. 

Is  loosed  gown;  because  that  dress  enchains 

The  spirit  as  a  body  made  of  clay 

Would  dwarf  the  growing  soul ! 


BOYCE 

We  sympathize 
With  you! 

FOOL 

[As  if  coming  to  himself] 
I  know  what  I  will  do !     Farewell ! 
[Exit  right] 


CONGER 

Indeed,  we  live  a  wondrous  life ! 
[178] 


THE  UNVEILING 


BOYCE 

A  world 
The  Gods  see  fit  to  visit — 

CONGER 

The  President 
Be  proud  to  show! 

BOYCE 

It  is  no  boast !     But,  come, 
We  too  must  seek  the  Gods !     Who  knows  ?     That 's 

where 
The  Fool  has  gone! 

CONGER 

He  said  he  was  the  world! 
[Exeunt  right.  Weird  music,  but 
grand.  The  manufactory  lightens 
and  the  machinery  begins  to  run. 
Men  and  women  are  moving  about 
dressed  in  beautiful  costumes.  There 
suddenly  bursts  forth  a  full  orchestra 
to  the  sound  of  the  machinery.  Enter 
President  Andrews  dressed  in  a  mag- 
nificent costume  showing  Ahriman 
about.  They  are  followed  by  the  Fool] 

ANDREWS 

The  mechanism  does  the  work,  the  rest 
Is  play !    There  is  no  labor,  only  oversight 
To  see  that  all  runs  smoothly  I 
[179I 


THE  UNVEILING 


AHRIMAN 

Your  output 
Pays  you? 

ANDREWS 

Each  one  performs  his  share;  that's 
all! 
Life's  necessaries  once  produced  with  us 
Are  never  wasted,  but  preserved.     The  rest 
Of  time  is  used  in  living! 

AHRIMAN 

This  was  a  dream 
Laughed  at  where  I  came  from ! 

ANDREWS 

'Twas  so  with  us 
For  many  years,  but  realized  to-day 
In  actuality!    Perhaps,  as  you 
A  stranger  are,  you'd  Hke  to  hear  this  hour 
A  teaching  from  a  visitor  abreast 
The  age  in  culture  and  philosophy? 

AHRIMAN 

Like  common  Man,  I'd  rather  be  amused! 
However,  I  will  stay  a  while! 

ANDREWS 

I'm  sure 
You'll  be  repaid! 

[i8o] 


THE  UNVEILING 


AHRIMAN 
[Temptingly] 

How  comes  it  that  a  man 
Of  yoiir  position  would  degrade  himself 
By  mingling  with  the  general  herd? 

ANDREWS 

Nonsense ! 
Position  counts  for  nothing,  worth  is  what 
We  prize !    The  stranger ! 

[Weird  music,  but  beautiful.  Ormazd 
enters  from  right] 

AHRIMAN 

As  I  expected!    Well, 
I  see  my  fate ! 

[Limps  to  one  side.  Ormazd  is  greeted 
by  A  ndrews.  Men  and  women  enter. 
The  manufactory  stops.  Grand  mu- 
sic. Fool  down  stage  on  one  side  lis- 
tens; Ahriman  on  the  other  dejected] 

ANDREWS 

Brethren,  we  have  with  us 
To-day  a  man  who  understands  our  life 
In  its  entirety,  him  I  present 
To  you,  Ormazd,  by  name,  my  brethren! 

SUPERINTENDENT  WELLESLY 

Greeting,  Sire! 
[They  all  acknowledge  the  introduction] 
[I8i] 


THE  UNVEILING 


ORMAZD 

Brethren,  the  world  has  seen  the  birth,  the  reign, 
The  full  subjection  of  self-interest  through 
The  natural  evolution  of  Religion 
From  tribal  cult  up  to  Humanity! 
Not  Superstition  which  usurped  its  place, 
With  which  you  bartered  for  salvation, 
Instead  that  Pow'r  we  see  throughout  all  Nature, 
Uniting  in  its  grasp  the  Universe, 
Resulting  in  its  final  form  to-day, 
The  Socialization  of  Humanity! 
Religion  binds  Mankind  into  a  whole, 
And  when  directed  by  the  Social  Sense, 
Which  is  all-wise,  a  wrong  to  one  is  seen 
By  all!    Instead  of  Law  to  rule  the  Race, 
We  have  morality  and  science !    Instead 
Of  force  to  rule  the  individual, 
We  have  enlightened  Conscience!     Man  holds 
Within  himself  the  Race  and  Self,  the  one 
A  mentor  to  the  other !     It  seems  strange 
To  you,  and  yet  there  was  a  time  when  Man 
Preferred  to  hurt  his  fellow  rather  than 
Himself !     'Tis  sad  to  think  of  Savagery, 
A  prey  to  cold  and  want ;  and  yet  'tis  worse 
To  ponder  on  the  Civilized,  depraved 
From  lack  of  thought  and  feeling  for  the  Race, 
Which,  when  invoked,  subdue  the  panic  fear 
As  light  unterrifies  the  darkness !     Earth 
Has  ever  brought  a  surplus  wealth  to  Man ; 
[182] 


THE  UNVEILING 


But  in  the  moil  that  constituted  life 
For  many  thousand  years  more  wealth  was  wasted 
Than  saved !    The  struggle  made  us  strong,  the  way 
That  God  creates  all  things !     Do  all  we  can 
No  time  will  ever  come  when  struggle  will 
Be  over;  but  the  time  has  passed  when  we 
Should  fight  each  other !     Wrong  is  not  innate ; 
'Tis  undirected  force  due  Ignorance ! 

AUDIENCE 

[Applauds  with  music  and  they  flock 
about  Ormazd] 

WELLESLY 

The  hour  for  recreation  is  at  hand. 

[There  is  exquisite  music  and  the  men 
and  women  dance  off  left.  Andrews 
and  Ormazd  go  off  right  talking. 
Ahriman  sits  to  one  side  and  accosts 
Mitchell.     Fool  listens] 

AHRIMAN 

Good  Sir,  do  you  suppose  if  I  were  you 
That  I  would  suffer  anyone  to  boss  me? 

MITCHELL 

Why  not? 

AHRIMAN 

Because  I  would  be  free! 

[183] 


THE  UNVEILING 


MITCHELL 

For  what? 

AHRIMAN 

To  come  and  go — to  be  an  individual ! 

MITCHELL 

I  am  that  now! 

AHRIMAN 

But  he  controls  you  fully! 
[Points  after  Andrews] 
Why  not  be  free?     Direct  your  own  exertions? 
Say,  this  is  mine!     Say,  I  do  this!     You,  that! 
With  your  intelligence,  why,  you  could  own 
The  Earth! 

MITCHELL 

What  would  I  do  with  it  ? 

AHRIMAN 

Enjoy  it ! 

MITCHELL 

I  do  that  now ! 

AHRIMAN 

Then  you  could  be  supreme! 

MITCHELL 

Perhaps,  some  other  one  could  better  lead? 

AHRIMAN 

Alas !    You  have  no  wants ! 
[184] 


THE  UNVEILING 


MITCHELL 

Indeed,  I  have, 
But  not  the  physical !     I  want  to  see 
The  Beautiful ;  to  hear  the  Sweet !     To  know 
The  Truth !     My  soul  is  all  afire  to  live 
The  higher  Life !     The  only  worth  is  mental ! 
The  only  honor  moral !     Not  what  you  have 
But  what  you  are;  not  what  you  do,  but  what 
You're  fit  to  do,  is  gain!     Worth  is  within! 
There    was    a    time    men    weighed    achievement 

only, 
But  now  'tis  possibility  that  gains 
Us  glory !    We  have  a  sense  like  Love  which  sees 
The  what  we  are  without  a  demonstration ! 

[Exit  right  looking  at  the  dumfounded 
Ahriman] 


AHRIMAN 

[Sadly] 

I  must  be  gone !    At  first  'twas  preached,  there  is 

No  Hell,  no  Devil,  now  all  Evil  is 

Restricted  to  a  fight  with  Nature !     I  must 

BeoflEI 

[Exit  left.  Sighing  so  loud  it  is 
ridiculous.  Enter  Andrews  and 
Ormazd.  Women  and  men  form 
again  as  an  audience.  The  Fool 
is  deeply  interested.     Grand  music] 

[185] 


THE  UNVEILING 


ANDREWS 
It  was  as  I  predicted!     Yes; 
At  first  a  few  rebelled,  but  soon  'twas  seen 
That  Life  could  be  controlled ;  for  men  had  long 
Ceased  being  brutes :  so  they  began  the  life 
Of  socialization  which  we  now  enjoy ! 
You're  from  the  East  ? 

ORMAZD 

My  habitation  is 
The  world !    I  am  a  true  cosmopolite ! 

ANDREWS 

The  same  with  us !     The  measures  that  engage 
Us  now  are  battles  with  the  elements ! 
One  people  spread  the  Earth,  for  all  are  human! 
The  more  we  see,  the  more  we  know  how  hard 
'Twill  be  to  keep  our  footing  on  the  Earth 
As  it  grows  old  and  older !     'Tis  our  hope 
That  we  may  fully  realize  to-day 
The  possibilities  of  Nature  seen 
Far  in  the  depths  of  Space  on  starry  nights : 
Each  star  a  Sun  surrounded  by  its  group 
Of  planets,  each  a  home  of  life  like  ours ; 
And  while  we  know  the  Earth  is  but  a  mote, 
Yet  Nature  peopled  it  with  forms,  ourselves, 
To  comprehend  the  Whole;  and  finally 
The  depths  of  Consciousness  will  parallel 
The  depths  of  Space,  and  then  the  Universe 
Will  be  conceived! 

[i86] 


THE  UNVEILING 


ORMAZD 
[Speaks  as  a  man] 

And  Death  will  lose  its  gloom 
When  Nature  is  no  more  a  mystery; 
Because  we  are  a  part  of  All,  and  All 
Is  actualized  in  us !     Idealists 
Are  right  only  they  put  effects  for  causes! 
The  world  makes  mind,  not  mind  the  world !     The 

diff'rence 
Between  what  is,  and  what  they  think  is  Truth, 
Is  to  mistake  the  picture  for  the  object; 
To  treasure  shadows,  savage-like,  and  not 
Reality;  for  Nature  is  no  more 
Dependent  on  the  mind  than  fact  on  fancy ! 
The  mind  is  stored  experience  with  Nature 
In  living  bodies  since  in  single  cells, 
Beginning  in  the  primal  deep,  thence  on, 
'Tis  handed  down  in  repetition  till 
What  Nature  is,  is  mirrored  in  a  form. 
Repeated  there,  is  organized ;  becomes 
Another  Nature;  yet  is  only  Nature 
Accomplishing  its  possibilities, 
Revealing  All  within  a  part,  ourselves ! 
The  idea  and  the  object  are  one  thing. 
Identical  in  essence;  but  it  takes 
A  billion  years  to  make  the  one,  a  moment 
The  other;  yet  the  likeness  is  revealed; 
For  each  is  repetition  of  one  thing, 
The  mother  energy  ?     I  do  not  count 

11871 


THE  UNVEILING 


The  atom-frame  in  which  the  energies 

Build  up  the  mind  as  idea,  for  Matter 

We  know  by  being;  but  all  else  is  energy 

In  Protean  forms !     So  that  it  follows  knowledge 

Is  recognition !     To  know,  then,  is  to  be ! 

The  finished  thing,  ourselves,  seeing  ourselves 

In  elements !     So  what  occurs  at  death 

Is  a  resolving  of  the  parts  as  in  the  first ! 

We  have  attained  the  breast  on  which  to  lay 

Our  heads,  Humanity !     When  Nature  ends 

This  cycle  in  its  grand  catastrophe, 

We  know  another  Nature  will  arise, 

Another  Race  will  then  appear,  and  on, 

And  on  forever  and  forever ! 

[Beautiful  music  swells  out,  and  the 
men  and  women  go  into  the  manu- 
factory. Ormazd  and  Andrews  ex- 
eunt right,  the  Fool  following  them, 
and  Ahriman  limping  after  him. 
Music  changes  to  that  of  love.  The 
lights  are  beautiful.  Enter  young 
Hardy  and  young  Brooks  as  roman- 
tic lovers] 

YOUNG  HARDY 

When  first  she  took  possession  of  my  eyes 
There  was  a  space  of  blank  existence,  as 
When  some  great  thing  usurps  the  mind  completely ! 
'Twas  followed  by  an  added  life  my  soul 

[188] 


THE    UNVEILING 


Caught  up  while  'twas  away !     I  never  knew 
What  joy  was !     Ah !     Nor  ecstasy !     My  heart 
Was  full  so  that  no  matter  what  engaged  me 
It  called  me  back  to  its  wild  joy !     I  looked 
On  life  with  wider  view  of  Hope,  Ambition! 
No  flower  went  unseen;  and  every  beauty 
Of  night  and  day  obtained  my  homage!     Oh, 
I  seemed  to  live  some  former  life,  remembered 
As  in  a  dream,  and  so  became  a  part 
Of  Nature !     This  was  how  love  came  to  me ! 

YOUNG  BROOKS 

Your  confidence  shall  be  respected ! 


YOUNG  HARDY 


I  feel 


She  is  my  complement,  my  other  self 
To  make  complete  existence  in  our  union ! 
I  do  not  breath  the  common  air  but  some 
Intoxicating  sweet  that  flies  throughout 
My  soul !     I  never  told  her  of  my  love 
In  words;  'twas  given  in  that  grant  of  eyes 
That  spake  before  all  language  was  invented. 
Imparting  more  than  all  the  words  e'er  spoken ! 

YOUNG  BROOKS 

There  is  much  sadness  in  your  father's  life; 
It  looks  as  if  'twould  blemish  yours! 

[189I 


THE  UNVEILING 


YOUNG  HARDY 

Each  life 
Is  lived,  affected  by  the  life  next  to  it 
But  little  more  than  those  remote !     The  chance 
That  made  his  sad  has  made  mine  happy ! 

[Sweet  music.  They  walk  off  left 
talking.  Music  still  full  of  love. 
Enter  Miss  Brooks  and  Miss  Waring 
dressed  ideally] 

MISS  BROOKS 

Recite  again  the  meeting  of  the  lovers! 

MISS  WARING 

Your  interest  makes  me  afraid  to  trust 

Your  ears  again,  my  tongue  to  word  this  wonder, 

For  being  too  familiar  with  the  story, 

You  may  discover  its  true  source ! 

MISS  BROOKS 

I  know 
The  farthest  fancy  has  a  soul  of  fact, 
But  Friendship  only  sees  that  which  the  heart 
Intends,  no  matter  what  it  says  or  looks ! 

[Takes  out  a  manuscript,  hut  makes  no 
pretense  of  reading,  afid  soon  it  can 
be  seen  that  she  is  telling  her  own 
story.  Beautiful  music  and  the 
lights  shine  bright] 
[190  ] 


THE  UNVEILING 


MISS  WARING 

In  Friendship's  bonds  I  read:     To  that  far  Self, 
Which  some  day  I  shall  be,  I  speak  my  heart 
To-day  so  it  may  have  these  words  to  help 
It  realize  the  God-like  life  of  Love ! 
If  mind  alone  were  trusted,  I  foresee 
No  single  heart  can  hold  enough  of  love 
To  picture  love !     If  every  hour  should  speak 
Its  joy  in  all  the  years  to  come,  not  then 
Would  Love  be  known ! 

Despite  my  best  endeavor 
The  joy  of  that  first  meeting  will  surpass 
All  effort  of  crude  language  to  express ! 
As  Wisdom's  heart  may  be  discovered  through 
A  window  of  a  word,  my  poor  attempt 
Mayhap  will  show  in  failure  what  love  is; 
For  Love,  like  Wisdom,  sees  the  whole  in  part! 
And  so,  my  Future  Self,  Love  came  to  me 
Another  consciousness,  as  you,  dim  years 
Ago,  found  me,  and  grew  and  grew  until 
There  were  two  things.  Self  and  the  wondrous  world ! 
There  yet  are  two,  but  now  He  is  the  world! 
At  first,  there  flashed  defiance  in  my  soul, 
Which  lasted  for  a  seeming  age,  in  fact, 
An  instant,  then  surrender  heart  and  mind, 
My  inmost  being;  yet  I  stood  as  calm 
As  when  a  child  looks  at  the  Moon  and  wonders! 
It  was  allegiance  to,  not  Him,  but  Life  1 
The  purpose  of  my  being  was  awakened 

1 191] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Within  my  heart !     It  blossomed,  grew,  became 
Supreme !     The  blushes  in  my  cheeks  betrayed 
To  Him  the  secret  Love  misnames  to  others 
But  understands  itself  in  secret  hope 
No  matter  how  it  may  be  covered  up ! 
To  say  that  I  was  happy  would  not  speak 
My  joy !     It  was  a  kind  of  life,  unknown 
To  man,  and  known  to  lovers  only  when 
They  answer  love  with  love! 

I  never  knew 
Till  then  why  Beauty  wasted  in  the  world. 
What  music  meant,  why  skies  are  blue,  the  stars 
So  bright,  the  air  so  sweet,  the  day  so  grand, 
What  meant  the  cool  of  water  to  the  lips, 
Why  life  is  one  long  unsubdued  joy ! 
They  are  no  longer  mystery !     They  are 
The  added  life  of  Love !     I  saw  'twas  love. 
Not  life,  because  I  knew  it  through  my  heart ! 
One  soul  at  last  stood  out  revealed,  unveiled. 
The  what  he  was ;  and  I  myself  was  shorn 
Of  all  the  world  puts  on  my  sex;  but  then 
The  eyes  that  saw  looked  on  with  that  far  view. 
Completely  missing  self  in  seeing  Love ! 
And  Doubt  dared  not  outstretch  his  robbing  arms. 
For  every  hope  was  counted  as  fruition; 
All  aspirations  were  fulfilled;  for  once 
Judgment  was  given  with  the  same  degree 
Of  justice  as  in  hoped-for  Heav'n ;  for  Love, 
Like  Mercy,  makes  men  Gods !  Speechless  he  stood 
[  192  ] 


THE  UNVEILING 


And  looked  at  me;  for  language  knows  no  use 
When  souls  meet  so;  and  yet  I  realized 
As  from  some  former  life,  a  hidden  source; 
That  he  to  me  was  all  there  was  of  Life; 
And  while  we  stood,  but  for  a  moment  thus, 
It  seemed  that  he  and  I  had  lived  from  all 
Eternity,  presaging  when  we  part ! 
It  is  sublime  to  know  that  from  the  first 
Of  Time  there  is  another  half  of  Life 
Somewhere  destined  to  make  complete  your  half; 
But  it  transcends  all  words  to  tell  the  joy 
When  in  the  round  of  years,  he  comes  to  claim 
His  own,  you  wait  to  yield  allegiance! 

[Miss  Waring  pauses,  as  in  a  trance. 
Miss  Brooks  glances  lefty  and  sees 
Young  Hardy  enter] 

MISS  BROOKS 

'Tis  beautiful !     Most  beautiful,  my  friend. 

[She  withdraws  silently  to  the  right  as 
if  not  to  disturb  her  friend] 

YOUNG  HARDY 

[Running  to  Miss  Waring\ 
So  far  have  I  disdained  the  use  of  words 
In  loving  you,  Sweetheart!     [Kisses   her]     When 

that  first  burst 
Of  love  is  gone  there  comes  a  time  when  love 
'3  [  193  ] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Is  so  secure  that  it  invites  the  use 
Of  language  in  its  purpose ! 

MISS  WARING 

I  have  heard 
It  said  that  love  no  longer  speaks  in  words 
But  utters  Life  in  deeds  above  all  dreams ! 


YOUNG  HARDY 

I  come  to  translate  into  facts,  my  dear, 

The  dream  that  we  have  lived,  and  realize 

Our  union  in  a  home !     This  ring  I  give 

Is  symbol  of  eternity !     Our  life 

That  has  been  and  our  life  that  is  to  come, 

Not  in  some  far  away  and  mystic  world, 

But  here  on  Earth  in  lives  that  were,  and  lives 

That  are  to  be ! 

[As  he  puts  the  ring  on  her  finger ,  there 
is  exquisite  music,  and  when  they 
look  away,  there  appears  in  the 
distance  a  beautiful  home,  and  they 
go  towards  it.  Lights  cease  to 
shine  about  them.]  [Weird  music. 
The  stage  darkens.  Ahriman  and 
Ormazd  enter  from  the  right.  The 
Fool  follows  them  at  a  distance 
unobserved.  Ahriman  seems  very 
much  downcast] 
[  194  ] 


THE  UNVEILING 


AHRIMAN 

I  see  small  hope  for  me! 

ORMAZD 

And  I  see  less!    Hark  you,  henceforth,  when  men 
Look  at  the  distant  stars,  or  wonder  what 
Existence  is,  they,  then,  will  know  that  all 
That  Nature  is,  is  nothing  but  themselves 
In  elements,  containing  everything 
In  essence  on  one  hand,  in  history 
The  other !    We  have  shown  Man  what  he  is, 
Unveiled  Nature  as  we  said  we  would! 

AHRIMAN 

But  can  he  read  the  Whole  within  its  parts? 
Or  see  the  part,  himself,  within  the  Whole? 
That  is  the  question  which  confronts  the  world, 
And  on  its  answer  my  existence  hangs ! 

ORMAZD 

The  Universe  is  for  itself,  but  Man, 
Its  favorite,  is  privileged  to  know 
The  Whole  by  having  it  in  him  recorded 
As  mind,  and  heart,  and  soul,  Life,  Love,  Religion ! 
Self-consciousness,  when  truly  understood. 
Is  simply  Nature  organized,  the  whole 
Repeated  in  its  units,  that  is  all ! 
From  Nebula  to  Nebula  might  be 
Accomplished,  yet  Mankind  not  be  evolved; 
I  195  ] 


THE  UNVEILING 


For  Nature  does  not  always  do  its  best, 
That  boon  resulting  when  fortuitous 
Conditions  favor  it ! 

AHRIMAN 

Injustice  makes 
[Pointing  to  himself] 
Perfection  possible  in  Nature ! 


ORMAZD 

No! 
All  Nature  is  arranged  by  super-purpose 
And  is  so  constituted  that  Perfection 
Becomes  the  child  of  sacrifice;  hence  Nature 
Cannot  create  its  greatest,  best,  Mankind, 
Except  by  making  everything  pay  tribute; 
Evolving  Man  at  the  expense  of  all : 
For  everything  that  ever  was,  since  first 
The  Solar  System  was  begun,  existed 
And  stands  to-day  that  Man  might  live,  and  have 
The  whole  of  Nature  centered  in  himself; 
So  that  he  might  extend  his  Art  to  all 
Of  Nature  when  endowed  with  that  true  use 
Of  force  which  makes  atonement  for 
The  juggernaut  of  life,  by  realizing 
The  end,  Immortal  Life  here  on  the  Earth! 
It  is  as  if  the  Race  had  given  all 
Its  power  to  one  man,  a  King,  and  bade 
Him  exercise  it  for  the  common  good, 

[196] 


THE  UNVEILING 


And  he  would  then  be  sovereign  of  the  Race 
So  that  impartial  justice  would  be  done 
To  all — a  failure  we  have  seen  with  men ! 
But  in  the  case  of  Nature  it  will  be 
Successful,  for  Humanity  was  born 
To  be  the  guide  of  Nature,  to  actualize 
Its  purpose,  turning  all  its  wasting  energies 
Into  the  channels  of  economy; 
So  all  the  sacrifice  will  be  repaid 
By  lifting  everything  up  to  the  plane 
Of  faultless  living  until  the  cycle  ends ! 

AHRIMAN 

[Sadly.     To  himself.     Weird  music] 
*Twas  said:     God's  Kingdom  is  within  your  midst. 
But  with  the  world  that  day  awry  it  looked 
A  travesty  of  Truth !     Now  with  Mankind 
Enlightened — Ah ! — I  will  be  laughed  out  of 
Existence!     Ah!     What  can  I   do?     [To  Ormazd] 

But  will 
Man  see  the  Truth? 

ORMAZD 

Just  as  a  tear  portrays 
The  hydrostatics  of  an  ocean,  so 
The  individual  contains  all  Nature, 
Not  in  a  figure,  but  in  fact  and  truth ! 
The  two  great  forces  of  the  world  unite 
In  making  him  a  God,  controlling  Nature, 

[  197  1 


THE  UNVEILING 


Directing  all  its  powers  to  one  end, 

A  supplementing  force  by  reason,   Art, 

And  bringing  out  of  Chaos  order;  ending 

The  plan  of  evolution  in  a  life 

That  fabled  Heaven  is  a  vision  of ! 

Immortal  Life,  the  Infinite,  is  Life; 

For  all  that  ever  was,  or  will  be,  finds 

Expression  in  the  life  of  Man  to-day 

When  fully  lived!     'Tis  you  who  made  him  take 

A  promise  for  this  great  reality ! 

Then  all  the  questions  that  now  vex  the  Race 

Will  meet  solution,  for  Humanity 

Will  be  a  God  directing  Nature,  Man 

Will  understand  the  Scheme  of  Things  entire, 

And  be  in  record  and  quintessence,  true 

Facsimile  of  All ! 

AHRIMAN 

You  pain  me  much! 
You  mean  to  say  that  all  the  dreams  of  Man 
Come  true  in  fact,  here  on  this  Earth,  instead 
Of  Heav'n?     That  evolution  has  an  end 
A  Life  Eternal,  that  you  realize 
It  in  an  instant  by  comprising  All; 
And  Time  and  Space  are  nothing  ? 

ORMAZD 

You  perceive, 
At  least  in  part,  the  trend  of  things  to-day ! 
[198] 


THE  UNVEILING 


AHRIMAN 

But  will  Mankind  see  this  unveiling  now, 
Or  force  another  cycle  to  ensue, 
Another  Age  of  Darkness  follow  this? 
And  Ignorance  be  deified  again, 
As  in  the  Age  of  Faith  when  Great  Rome  fell, 
Before  enlightenment  compels  Mankind 
To  see  the  meaning  of  the  allegories 
Which  constitute  the  world's  philosophy? 

ORMAZD 

[Fool  comes  forward] 
Let's  ask  the  Fool,  if  he  knows  what  the  world 
Is  coming  to,  for  after  all,  you  know, 
His  verdict  is  the  one  the  Truth  must  gain ! 

[During  the  following  speech  the  Fool 
is  transformed  into  a  rational  man. 
The  music,  while  weird,  is  beautiful. 
The  lights  shine  brightly  but  un- 
naturally] 

F(X)L 

Instead  of  Nature  taking  all  its  atoms, 
Developing  all  equally,  producing 
The  highest  form  for  all,  it  lets  them  take 
Their  turn.     It  makes  a  process  of  the  whole; 
Creates,  within  a  Part,  Itself;  no  matter 
The  cost,  the  time  required;  and  after  aeons 
This  replica  is  brought  up  to  Mankind, 
[199I 


THE  UNVEILING 


Which  lives  by  force,  and  fraud,  and  fear,  and  favor 

Another  aeon,  who  knows,  perhaps  another; 

Then  follow  aeons  of  improvement  till 

The  Individual,  the  Mind  of  Nature, 

Is  born !     It  seems  that  Nature  sacrificed 

All  else  that  individuality  might  be, 

But  this  is  only  true  apparently ! 

What  Nature  could  not  do  directly,  Man 

Accomplishes  for  all  through  sacrifice, 

Real  atonement,  by  directing  all 

The  force  and  energy  to  consummate 

The  Plan  of  Things  making  the  System  find 

In  Man  what  it  would  be,  had  God  omnipotent 

Produced  it  by  direct  fiat  at  first ! 

ORMAZD 

[Triumphantly] 
He  answers  every  question !    What  think  you  ? 

AHRIMAN 

[Cunningly] 
We'll  put  his  knowledge  to  a  moral  test ! 

[A  dog  comes  out] 
Let's  see  which  one  can  kick  this  brute  the  hardest ! 

FOOL 

[Intelligently] 
We  ought  to  put  into  the  life  below 
Mankind  as  much  of  light  as  possible !    [Fondles  dog] 
'Tis  sad  to  live  and  not  to  live  by  knowing ; 

[  200  ] 


THE  UNVEILING 


'Tis  sadder  still  to  live  and  not  to  live 
One's  self;  subserve  some  petted  line  of  life 
Or  else  oppose  it,  and  have  all  the  pain 
And  struggle  with  no  issue  of  success 
To  look  to  in  the  future;  be  a  brute, 
A  failure  first  and  last !     A  train  without 
A  track ;  a  ship  adrift  at  sea !     And  have 
No  chance  of  ever  being  set  aright,  Nature's 
By-product  which  shows  us  what  we  escaped 
By  Fortune  in  the  night  of  evolution! 
Good  Sir,  if  such  a  fate  does  not  arouse 
The  feelings  of  Mankind,  and  make  them  give 
Their  sympathy  to  all  below  them,  then 
We  have  not  reached  enlightenment  to-day 
But  linger  in  the  darkness  which  depicts 
The  world  a  Hell  now  taught  to  be  a  life 
Beyond  the  grave ! 

ORMAZD 

[To  Ahriman,  who  stands  amazed] 
What  think  you  now? 

AHRIMAN 

Ah!    Ah! 
[Expressing  feelings] 
This  is  the  miracle,  a  Fool  to  think! 

ORMAZD 

We  have  redeemed  our  promise  to  Mankind! 

[201] 


THE  UNVEILING 


AHRIMAN 

Humanity  will  never  understand 

Its  situation  in  the  world !     One  form 

Of  Truth  obstructs  the  other !     Enlightenment 

Is  practically  impossible ! 

ORMAZD 

Not  so ! 

FOOL 

The  two  great  allegories  that  confused 

The  Race  for  centuries — the  Fall  of  Man, 

And   Man's   Redemption   through    the    Christ — 

are  pictures 
Of  what  the  Individual  must  suffer 
To  reach  the  Everlasting  Life  on  Earth ! 
Each  one  of  us  is  Adam;  each  is  Christ! 
At  first  we  live  in  union  with  the  Race, 
Then  comes  rebellion,  ending  in  our  fall ; 
And  thus  it  is  that  Wrong  is  born ;  that  Fraud 
Is  practiced  as  a  Virtue,  deemed  essential; 
Oppression  justified!     Man's  world  becomes 
A  world,  usurping  everything,  that  shames 
The  world  of  Nature  in  its  cruelty ! 
The  Individual  begins  the  struggle 
That  typifies  the  conflict  which  the  Race 
Has  suffered  in  its  mythic  history ! 
One  day  there  is  developed  in  his  heart 
The  Power  of  Religion,  which  subdues 

[  202  ] 


THE  UNVEILING 


All  else;  he's  crucified;  is  Christ!    Atones 

The  Fall;  attains  the  Everlasting  Life! 

Is  one  with  God;  and  in  his  moment  lives 

Eternal  Life,  true  immortality! 

It  is  impossible  for  any  Thing 

To  live  forever;  but  the  Whole  of  Time 

And  Space  can  be  repeated  in  a  moment ! 

Man's  Immortality  is  realized 

This  way  on  Earth  through  Klnowledge;  for    the 

Mind 
Is  Nature's  register  of  Life's  career! 
The  Body  and  the  Universe  are  One 
In  essence;  we,  comprising  all  there  is. 
Are  thus  identical  with  Nature !     Besides, 
Each  one  of  us  Hves  o'er  the  Race  again ! 
'Tis  symboled  in  a  thousand  mysteries ! 
We  picture  it  in  myths  and  allegories ; 
In  Gospels,  Revelations,  Scriptures,  Truth! 
It  is  the  theme,  disgmsed,  in  all  that  Man 
Has  writ  of  God !    The  key  that  will  unlock 
The  history  of  the  Race;  the  golden  warp 
That  runs  through  Life  on  which  the  web  of  Truth 
May  be  discovered  in  the  finished  cloth. 
Enabling  man  to  reach  divine  perfection 
On  Earth,  the  Purpose  of  the  Universe, 
What  else  could  Nature  mean? 


ORMAZD 

What  think  you  now? 
[203] 


THE  UNVEILING 


AHRIMAN 

Think!    Think!   Ah!  Ah!    I  only  feel!    Ah!  Ah!— 

But  yet  I  say  that  Man  will  bitterly 

Deny  this  Truth,  will  strew  the  stage  of  life 

With  dead  before  he  sees  himself  expressed 

In  what  he  thinks  is  sacred  history ! 

The  very  men  who  would  be  favored  most 

Are  they  who  will  be  guilty  of  the  murder, 

The  drama  being  nothing  but  your  theme 

In  action;  so  I  say  no  day  will  come 

In  which  the  Old  Good  will  not  crucify 

The  New  and  glory  in  the  persecution ! — 

ORMAZD 

Your  main  support  is  gone !    Where  is  the  Fool  ? 

AHRIMAN 

[Giving  up  the  Fool\ 
My  chief  disciples  are  not  sinners  low. 
But  masters  in  high  places,  this  remember ! 
The  sinner  is  the  butt,  the  host,  the  scapegoat ! 
The  men  who  do  my  work  live  honored  lives ! 
I  nlake  them  think  they're  serving  God,  or  Man; 
And  in  a  way  they  are,  for  Evil  is 
The  natural  way  to  Good;  but  you  wotdd  have 
The  Mind  direct  the  world,  eliminate 
All  conflict  from  the  Scheme  of  Things !     No !     No ! 
The  Earth  will  never  see  the  Good  succeed 
Because  'tis  Good;  reward  and  punishment 
[204] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Will  top  the  morals  of  the  world  forever ! 

My  reasoning  has  assured  me,  let  come  the  worst ! 

ORMAZD 

But  see!    The  Fool  has  been  transformed!     He 

leaves 
You  as  a  Thing  beneath  his  notice!    Ha! 

FOOL 

Henceforth,  with  Nature's  new  directing  pow'r. 
Mankind,  the  Earth  will  be  reclaimed  for  all. 
And  made  entirely  ours;  then  will  ensue 
The  Solar  System's  exploration;  then 
The  Universe  at  large ;  and  in  the  end 
The  Whole  will  be  as  simple  as  the  Part — 
For  all  that  Nature  does  is  to  repeat ! 

AHRIMAN 

[Wildly  rushing  off  the  stage] 
The  Fool  is  gone!     My  only  hope's  the  Knave! 
Ah!    Ah! 

[Weird  music ,  darkness.  The  center 
of  the  stage  is  almost  in  complete 
darkness.  Hardy  is  discovered  being 
borne  on  an  ambulance  which  is  let 
down.  A  spot  light  shows  his  face, 
while  about  him,  phantom-likey  are 
doctors,  nurses,  men.  Music  weird 
and  full  of  pain] 
[205] 


THE  UNVEILING 


HARDY 

[Trying  to  lift  his  head] 
Why  are  you  here?     So  many  of  you? 
To  note  the  anguish  on  my  face?     To  mark 
My  pain?     And  if  my  cries  your  theories  prove, 
It  makes  you  happy !    Vultures  of  sad  facts ! 
You  talk  among  yourselves,  stone-hearted  men, 
Secretly  glad  it  is  not  you !     Come,  Sirs, 
Why  not  give  me  some  purchased  hope?    Why 

not? 
If  only  lies !     For  with  your  airs,  I  do 
Believe  you  could  bluff  Death  himself  through  us 
Confiding  mortals ! 

[Enter  Ahriman.     Weird  music] 

AHRIMAN 

Ah,  I  see  it  now ! 
This  culprit's  pain  revives  my  life !    The  time 
Was  when  I  seemed  supreme,  how  great  the  change ! 
For  then  I  thought  myself  as  necessary 
As  Life!     But  Time  escaped,  and  with  the  dawn 
Of  Reason  Error  fled,  and  Fear,  and  now 
I  cling  on  to  existence  through  the  vice 
That's  represented  in  this  sinner! 

HARDY 

[To  phantom  shapes.     Weird  music] 
Speak ! 
Why  are  you  silent?    Come,  what  excuse  that  you 
[206] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Give   me   no   hope?     [Phantoms   turn]     Do    not 

desert  me  now ! 
Where  is  your  science?      Where    the    skill    you 

killed 
A  thousand  men  to  learn  ?    You  need  another 
To  make  complete  your  study?     Ah,  what  solace 
The  fact  for  me  to  know  that  my  demise 
Brings  up  the  normal  average  of  those 
Who   die  of   my   specific   pain!    Ah!     Ah!     [He 

laughs] 
Why  do  you  laugh,  you  phantom  monsters — ^Ah  I 
Oh,  that  depressing  pain !    That  blow  of  Death  I 
I'd  rather  have  a  dog  to  lick  my  hand 
Than  all  your  boasted  science,  ignorance 
Misnamed!     I  will  not  die!    I  will  to  live! 
To  reign!    To  rule!    But  when  the  pain  increases 
I  know  it  needs  must  be  myself  alone ! 
I  have  no  friends,  no  hope,  ah,  I  am  nothing! 


AHRIMAN 

[Weird  music] 
I  would  that  I  could  help  him  live,  but  how? 
I  have  no  sympathy  for  him,  instead, 
Am  happy  in  his  ruin,  so  joy  in  tempting 
Mankind  astray!    Still,  if  he  die,  what  then? 
What  will  become  of  me?     I  must  arrange 
Some  plan  through  which  Mankind  may  live  again 
This  life;  go  back  and  struggle  up  once  more 
[207] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Through  darkness  and  despair,  so  I  may  live 
And  thrive !     I  have  it ! 

[Exit  off  right  showing  signs  of  happi- 
ness] 

HARDY 

I  am  accursed.     I  see 
It  now !     The  City  light — the  world  beyond — 
O,  God,  I  had  youth  then !     My  life  was  yet 
To  live!     The  great,  great  moment  when  you  know 
Your  life  is  all  before  you !     'Tis  behind 
Me  now!    I  started  down  the  open  way— 
I  see  it  now — as  thoughtless  as  a  fool ; 
And  yet  I  made  my  choice !    The  life  of  sin 
Was  peopled  with  the  ones  I  then  admired; 
Those  active  men  and  idle  women,  bluffing 
At  Fortune  to  disprove  their  way  of  living ! 
I  followed  step  on  step  until  I  walked 
The  plank  of  Failure — to  amuse  my  friends ! 
Dropped  in  the  deep  oblivion — the  sea 
Of    Shame!    Ah!    What    I    suffered   must    have 

robbed 
Hell  of  its  pain !    To  know  that  you  are  blind 
Is  nothing  to  the  death  of  Hope !     Oh !     God ! 
To  have  Ambition  pressed  out  of  your  life ! 
To  feel,  to  know  that  you  have  been  condemned, 
Not  suited  to  the  sphere  you  longed  to  fill — 
No  fault  of  yours,  but  only  that  of  Nature — 
You  could  not  join  yourself  on  to  the  life 
[208] 


THE  UNVEILING 


That  you  desired!     Perhaps,  an  age  too  soon, 
Or  one  a  thousand  years  too  late !     All  Chance ! 
Ah,  Life  is  in  the  heart  and  when  it  falters, 
Your  body  is  a  falling  weight  that  seeks 
Submersion  in  the  Earth  to  hide  itself ! — 
But  for  the  moment,  I  forgot  my  pain; 
Your  standing  there!    You  will  not  let  me  die? 
I  will  begin  it  all  again;  select 
Anew  my  lot  in  life,  this  time  to  act 
With  judgment !     We  experiment  in  living, 
Try  in  our  dreams  our  work-a-day  ambitions! 
I  did  not  have  a  chance !     It  was  too  easy ! 
Onbounding  youth  should  pause  as  if  Death  cried : 
Hold!     Hold! — I  mutter  to  myself!     Regret 
Of  age  is  balanced  by  the  faith  of  youth  I 
God's  scales  can  not  be  tampered  with !    Unlike 
Mankind's  makeshift  God's  justice  is  not  errant; 
Weighs  true  our  hearts,  and  thus,  when  we  are 

old,— 
Gathered  from  Life's  unnumbered  instances — 
We  know  that  God  is  all;  that  in  the  Plan 
Of  things  all  Evil  comes  to  nothing !    Ah ! 

[Enter  Ahriman  and  Ormazd  and  the 
phantoms  vanish.  Weird  music. 
Stage  lightens  somewhat] 


AHRIMAN 

He  craves  another  chance!    His  cries  touched  me! 
14  [  209  ] 


THE  UNVEILING 


ORMAZD 

Were  we  to  grant  it,  would  he  live  life  better  ? 

AHRIMAN 

Undoubtedly,  else  progress  is  a  myth! 

ORMAZD 

When  you  begin  to  moralize  I  doubt! 

AHRIMAN 

Your  grace  is  gain!    Because  you  demonstrate 
Your  own  philosophy ! 

ORMAZD 

[Pondering] 

It  lies  with  us 
To  let  him  live  again ! 

AHRIMAN 

My  thumb  is  up ! 

ORMAZD 

His  prayer  is  one  that  all  Mankind  should  make ! 
[Weird   music.     The   Gods   stand   as 
statues  as  in  Act  I] 

HARDY 

O,  Gods,  who  came  to  me  when  I  was  young, 
Come  now  and  make  me  young  again;  grant  me 
My  youth  once  more !     O,  let  me  have  another  try 
[210] 


THE  UNVEILING 


At  living,  have  another  chance  at  life ! 
'Twas  not  my  fault  that  Failure  overtook 
My  effort  but  the  Chance  that  lives  in  Nature ! 
Life's  not  a  struggle  for  existence,  fame. 
Power,  advancement,  place  on  equal  terms ! 
No !     No !    The  element  of  Chance  decides ! 
Will  you  not  hearken  to  my  cry  ?     Put  Death 
Away;  and  give  me  youth  again —     It  comes, 
That  terror  of  the  soul !     Death !     Death !     Death ! 
Death! 

[Weird  music.     An  image  of  himself 
appears,  ghostlike] 
Take  me  away  from  it,  myself!    Ah!    Ah! 

[The  form  vanishes.      The  Gods  appear 
again  as  living  men  and  approach] 
O,  hear,  great  Gods,  come  banish  now  this  wolf 
Of  pain  that  gnaws  my  heart  away ! 


ORMAZD 

I  yield! 
Thy  prayer  has  met  with  favor,  and  to  prove 
That  Life  develops  with  the  ages,  you 
Shall  live  once  more;  begin  as  at  the  first. 
And  show  Mankind,  if  life  were  lived  again, 
That  in  each  generation  there  is  progress ! 

[Ormazd  stands  in  front  of  Hardy  and 
waves  his  arms  over  him.  Weird 
music  and  gradually  the  light  in- 
creases] 


THE  UNVEILING 


AHRIMAN 
No  matter  what  becomes  of  me!     I  thought, 
If  I  could  tempt  him  to   experiment    [points   to 

Ormazd] 
(God's  vice),  I'd  get  another  lease  of  life 
At  Man's  expense! 

ORMAZD 

Your  hoped  request  is  granted, 
For  dreams  are  many,  life  is  one ! 


AHRIMAN 

Ha!  Ha! 
Ha!  Ha! 

ORMAZD 

And  you  will  see,  while  Life  runs  all 
Awry  in  Nature,  that  with  Man  it's  principled 
Aright,  and  wins  the  goal  by  infinite 
Experiment!     'Tis  done! 

[Ormazd  stands  aside  and  there  is  a 
burst  of  joyous  music.  Hardy  is 
lying  asleep,  a  young  man  as  in  the 
Act  I] 


CURTAIN 


[212] 


ACTV 


213 


ACTV 

Scene  I:  The  setting  is  the  same  as  in  Act  7, 
except  the  statues  of  the  Gods  are  draped  in  pink  and 
lavender  hunting,  the  college  colors.  The  music 
while  weird  has  a  note  of  gladness  in  it.  The  lights 
are  unnatural.  Hardy  and  Waring  are  discovered 
seated  at  the  table. 

DAVIS 

[Outside  knocking] 
Open  the  door !    Who  ever  saw  the  like ! 
[Knocking] 

WARING 

[Leaping  to  his  feet] 
I  do  believe  I've  been  asleep!    Ha!  Ha! 

HARDY 

[Apparently  awakening  and  horrified. 
Weird  music] 
Thank  God !    A  terrifying  dream  was  torturing  me. 
It  seemed  prophetic  of  my  future  life! 

WARING 

I  am  not  superstitious !    Do  not  fear ! 

[Students  outside  knock  violently] 

[215] 


THE  UNVEILING 


HARDY 
[Opening  the  door] 

[Enter  Davis,  Brooks^  and  students] 


Come  in! 


WARING 

Welcome!    But  why  knock  down  the  door? 

DAVIS 

[Looking  at  them  intently] 
You've  been  asleep ! 

BROOKS 

While  on  the  watch !    Suppose 
The  strikers  had  got  in;  broke  down  the  statues, 
Our  holiday  would  be  denied,  and  all 
Our  preparations  spoiled  through  your  neglect ! 

[Waring  and  Hardy  do  not  understand, 
are  mystified] 

DAVIS 

Show  them  the  program !     Prexy  will  surpass 
Himself!     The  Skulls  are  out  in  force,  will  fire 
A  cannon  for  the  death  of  ev'ry  ill 
Humanity  is  rid  of  through  th'  event 
We  celebrate !     'Tis  something  really  great ! 

BROOKS 

And  every  one  is  licensed  to  disport 
Himself  in  truly  oriental  fashion ! 

[216] 


THE  UNVEILING 


WARING 

[Weird  music] 
What  changed  the  plans  ? 


BROOKS 

The  strike! 


HARDY 

[Dumfounded] 


When  did  it  happen] 


BROOKS 

Last  night !     Did  you  not  hear  the  disaffection  ? 
The  strike  set  things  ablaze,  the  Skulls  and  all ! 
A  meeting  followed,  resolutions,  speeches — 
And  all  that  rot !     Of  course,  a  holiday 
Became  inevitable !     What,  at  first, 
Concerned  but  one  fraternity  was  soon 
Extended  to  the  college,  thence  the  town ! 

DAVIS 

As  if  to  dare  the  strikers'  interference. 
Why,  we  paraded  streets  and  alleys  all 
Night  long ! 

BROOKS 

For  we  resent  the  statement  made. 
If  we  unveil  the  statues  of  these  Gods 
Bad  luck  will  happen  us !     Dull  Ignorance 
I  217) 


THE  UNVEILING 


May  guard  the  Temple,  but  stark  Superstition 
Cannot  control  the  School! 

DAVIS 

The  plan  is  this: 
Your  speeches  will  precede  extended  ones 
From  all  the  faculty,  co-eds,  and  Skulls; 
So  interspersed  with  songs  to  make  us  all 
Forget    the    grind    of    School!      We've    waived 

the  rules. 
Thrown  wide  the  doors  of  Freedom  and  invite 
The  Eastern  world  to  enter  in  the  Western, 
The  Past,  To-Day,  will  thus  observe  the  Future 
Through  magnifying  circumstances! 

WARING 

Good! 

BROOKS 

The  first  thing  is  the  grand  review;  the  next — 
We  have  no  time  to  spare — you  play  the  parts 
Of  Ahriman  and  Ormazd — see !    We  bring 
You  gowns  and  crowns!     Make  haste!    For  here 
they  are ! 

[Hardy  dons  the  dress  of  Ahriman, 
Waring  that  of  Ormazd.  The  college 
band  begins  to  play.  There  is  a 
touch  of  weirdness  in  the  music.  A 
great  body  of  students  march  in 
headed  by  Dr.  Romaine.  The  stu- 
dents are  about  equally  divided  as  to 

[218] 


THE  UNVEILING 


sex.  The  costumes  are  beautiful 
and  picturesque.  The  rear  of  the 
procession  is  brought  up  by  the 
Skulls  led  by  the  Fool.  Miss  Den- 
ham  is  dressed  as  the  Grecian 
Goddess  Artemis,  Miss  Selwyn  as 
Athene.  During  the  marching  the 
students  sing.  Lights  are  beautiful 
but  unnatural] 

STUDENTS 

All  hail  the  union  of 

The  East  and  West, 
And  let  us  mark  the  day 

With  joy  and  rest ! 

Let  down  the  bans  and  bars 

Of  Faith  and  Hope, 
And  find  the  Truth  within 

The  wider  scope! 


Oh,  sing  the  glad  new  song 
Of  Freedom's  day. 

And  hail  the  end  of  Wrong 
For  aye,  and  aye ! 

The  world  at  last  is  one 
With  peace  on  Earth ; 

No  more  the  cry  of  Pain, 
But  Joy  and  Mirth! 
[219I 


THE  UNVEILING 


All  hail  the  happy  day, 

The  fruit  of  years ! 
The  birth  of  Right  and  Peace, 

The  Death  of  Tears! 

All  hail  the  wondrous  work! 

All  hail  the  way ! 
All  hail  the  end  of  strife ! 

All  hail  to-day ! 

ROMAINE 

My  Friends:    The  first  to  speak  on  this  occasion 
Is  one  beloved  by  all ! 

STUDENTS 

Hawtry !    Hawtry ! 

HAWTRY 

Comrades :     I  little  dreamed  when  we  acquired 
These  statues,  now  to  be  unveiled,  th'  event 
Would  be  so  solemnized !     But  then  the  world 
Moves  on  to  upward  heights !    While  I  may  take 
Somewhat  of  this  occasion  to  myself  to-day, 
I  must  bestow  an  equal  honor  on  my  colleague 
Dr.  Andrews!     [Applause]     Because  from  him  we 

gained 
The  learning  which  enables  us  to  show 
The  world  that  we  are  oriented,  free, 
Seen  in  the  rite  that  we  now  celebrate! 
Some  day  we  hope  to  hail  him  President 

[  220  ] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Of  these  United  States!     [Applause]     The  scholar 

then 
Will  come  into  his  own,  and  thought  and  things 
Will  be  in  that  relation  which  the  Truth 
Demands;  and  Life  no  more  be  marred  by  Ignor- 
ance!    [Applause] 

STUDENTS 

Andrews !    Andrews ! 

ROMAINE 

He  needs  no  introduction ! 
[Applause] 

ANDREWS 

My  Friends :     There  is  no  rite  in  our  great  life 
That  carries  with  it  more  profound  concern, 
Is  greater,  than  the  marriage  of  true  hearts!     [Ap- 
plause by  Skulls] 
It  is  because  it  symbolizes  Nature ! 
A  tmion  found  throughout  the  Universe, 
And  yet  unrecognized !     As  love  began 
In  strife,  passed  on  to  courtship,  then  to  Art; 
So  of  this  higher  marriage,  but  until 
To-day  imseen  I    The  death  of  Socrates, 
Think  you,  subserved  no  purpose  than  to  stop 
His  mouth  ?     Instead  of  that  it  brought  the  thought 
Of  Greece  into  one  system  which  led  Man 
A  score  of  centuries  throughout  the  world, 
A  fruitful  marriage,  was  it  not  ?     Most  fniitful ! 

[221  1 


THE  UNVEILING 


Then  Rome  with  men  and  arms  o'erran  the  world, 

A  marriage  in  its  way,  which  we  attain, 

Or  will  attain  by  Reason  in  the  Future ! 

Sex  runs  throughout  all  Nature ;  seen  in  plants, 

In  elemental  id,  in  animals — 

Not  only  that,  for  Life  is  also  sexed 

As  plants  and  animals  with  appetite 

To  marry  them !    Again  the  sex  device 

Appears  in  tribes,  confederations,  states, 

In  peoples,  civilizations — all  Mankind! 

Everywhere  we  find  uniting  forces 

Marry  the  sexual  halves  which  were  divided 

So  that  all  forms  might  have  a  wider  touch 

With  Nature  in  the  Struggle  for  Existence ! 

The  severing  of  all  these  forms  is  caused 

By  radiant  force  which  when  it  reaches  us 

Is  mind  that  differentiates  by  Choice 

And  not  by  Chance  thus  ending  in  Perfection ! 

The  highest  form  of  building  force,  Religion, 

Unites  the  static  and  dynamic  halves 

Of  Man  so  racial  progress  intervenes. 

At  first,  as  now,  by  storm  of  force,  crude  War, 

The  Devil's  game,  in  which  the  Human  Race 

Becomes  its  own  worst  enemy,  unlike 

All  other  life,  killing  itself  in  blindness. 

Being  avenger  and  avenged,  and  battling 

Until  both  sides  succumb  in  death  united! 

Religion  thus  perverted,  as  Love  in  lust, 

Consolidates  the  sundered  halves  of  Man 

[  222  ] 


THE  UNVEILING 


In  holocausts  of  blood,  not  through  the  light 
Of  guiding  Science,  Life's  true  protective  boon, 
Through  which  Religion  will  prompt  Man  to  Peace, 
And  not  destruction,  be  Divinity's 
Supreme  and  full  expression,  not  the  Devil's 
What  it  becomes  in  War !     Evil  is  Good 
Directed  ill ;  while  Good  is  Truth  in  action ! 
So  when  Religion  is  controlled  by  Science 
Humanity  will  make  the  Earth  one  nation 
With  nothing  to  oppose  it  but  the  push 
And  pull  innate  in  Nature !     How  different  these 
Uni tings  seem,  and  yet  are  one  in  essence ! 
In  war  'tis  loved  and  lover  o'er  again ! 
If  nation  be  not  guided  then,  the  one 
As  savage  clubs  its  mate  into  submission; 
Thus  Nature  blindly  strives  from  low  to  high ! 
Religion  in  uniting  nations  now 
Is  madding  force  to  motive  frantic  war, 
And  not  a  greater  love  as  when  controlled 
By  Truth!     Think  you  that  war  to-day  would  not 
Be  murder  if  some  blind  Divinity  did  not 
Approve  it  ?     The  world  has  never  thought  Religion 
Could  breed  a  vice !     It  could  not  see  so  deep ! 
As  love  is  blind  so  is  this  greater  love; 
But  not  content  with  being  blind  itself, 
It  gouges  out  the  eyes  of  all  the  world. 
Proclaims  as  perfect  things  belying  it 
In  part  and  whole,  a  fault  we  see  in  Pagan, 
Not  in  ourselves!     If  we  could  look  at  him, 
[223  1 


THE  UNVEILING 


As  he  at  us,  then  we  would  see  ourselves 

In  him !     Blind  eyes  can  only  see  through  eyes 

Of  others !     Grant  Religion  can  become 

Perverted,  then  we  see  the  Deity 

Makes  no  exception,  but  entrusts  all  Nature 

To  us ;  lets  us  work  out  perfection  best 

We  can;  uniting  peoples  now  by  Reason, 

If  possible,  if  not,  by  Fraud  and  Force, 

Putting  Mankind  upon  a  plane  with  Matter, 

The  lowest  form  of  combination !     We  know 

This  greater  Love  will  some  day  bind  the  Race 

As  one,  in  joy  so  great,  in  life  so  grand 

That  lovers'  bliss  to  it  will  be  compared 

As  starlight  to  the  Sun,  and  cease  to  be 

The  theme  of  books,  the  lilt  of  song,  the  bread 

Of  Life,  the  breath  of  Art ;  will  stay  at  home 

With  Self  where  it  belongs  by  Nature ;  for 

Religion  then  will  flood  the  world  with  peace. 

Be  giv'n  the  throne  of  Selfishness  and  Love ! 

The  proper  life  of  all,  that  perfect  day. 

Will    be    Humanity!      For    one    brief    hour,    we 

live; 
But  in  that  time,  we  compass  all  of  Nature, 
Eternity,  are  Infinite,  at  one 
With  God! 

We  meet  to-day  to  solemnize 
A  union,  not  the  lower  kind,  nor  yet 
The  higher,  but  a  union  of  the  East 
And  West,  prefigured  in  these  Gods,  not  Gods 
[224] 


THE  UNVEILING 


As  such,  but  what  they  symbolize!     We  do 
Not  speak  beyond  the  present  scope  of  thought 
And  well  within  the  common  trend  of  things, 
When  we  assert  the  eyes  of  men  were  made 
To  see  the  world  entirely !     If  our  minds 
Were  free  to  think,  the  strife  of  union  then 
Would  be  averted !     Thought  is  one !  The  time 
Will  come  when  thinking  men  will  see  the  Truth 
Expressed  in  every  stage  of  life  the  world 
Has  seen  from  Savage  dream  up  to  Savant 
No  matter  how  obscured  and  dark  it  be 
By  figurative  expression! 


FOOL 

Stop !     Hear  me ! 
As  I  am  licensed  by  the  World  to  speak 
My  mind  (for  anything  can  be  expressed 
In  jest),     I  want  to  tell  you  what  this  means: 
We  all  are  wrong  in  what  we  think,  and  all 
Are  right  depending  on  the  reader !     Now, 
My  occupation  is  to  try  amuse 
The  world  to  satisfaction,  yet  you'd  do 
Away  with  my  vocation ! 


ROMAINE 

Why,  it  does 
Not  matter! 

[General  laughter] 
IS  [  225  ] 


THE  UNVEILING 


FOOL 

Let  us  see !    Were  I  to  go 
Then  who  will  feed  the  gaping  crowd  with  nothing  ? 
[Romaine  waves  the  Fool  away.    Weird 
music] 

ROMAINE 

Let's  to  the  marriage  of  the  East  and  West ! 
The  first  to  speak — 

STUDENTS 

Ormazd!   Ormazd!   Ormazd! 

WARING 

[In  the  character   of  Ormazd.    Weird 
music] 
I  am  the  light  of  day !    The  mind  in  Nature ! 
The  Heaven  of  the  glorified !     I  am 
The  seed  of  Good!     My  name  has  many  forms; 
And  yet  I  am  the  same  the  wide  world  o'er ! 
At  some  place  in  the  distant  past,  long  years 
Before  Mankind  had  grown  to  its  full  stature, 
Aspiring  souls  discovered  me,  and  called 
Me  Good,  and  as  the  world  passed  on  from  place 
To  place,  at  last,  a  people  was  encountered 
Which  could  not  speak  my  name,  but  called  it 

God! 
And  as  it  out  its  hope  in  Good,  it  prospered; 
[226] 


THE  UNVEILING 


In  time  it  covered  all  the  world !    But  that 
Is  in  the  Future! 

ROMAINE 

The  next  to  speak,  Ahriman ! 

HARDY 

[In    character    of     Ahriman.    Weird 
music] 
Quite  early  in  the  life  of  Man,  one  day, 
A  certain  fellow,  whom  I  will  not  name, 
Discovered  Evil  but  misnamed  it  Devil; 
And  so  y-clept  I  came  down  through  the  ages! 
Near  any  one  in  this  conceited  day 
Could  make  a  world  without  me,  yet  all  Good 
Is  in  my  debt !    I  am  the  prop  that  Good 
Leans  on !     The  anvil  of  events  I    The  sting 
To  guide  aright  the  errant  ones  I    The  shade 
Which  blended  with  the  light  depicts  the  world! 
God  runs  through  all !     I  am  the  pain  to  point 
Where  God  is  not !     This  much  in  my  defense ! 
My  half  the  world  makes  no  profession,  show; 
Sincerest  love  is  silent  service !     The  same 
Is  true  devotion!    While  scant  homage  comes 
To  me,  I  serve  the  world  by  opposition ! 

ROMAINE 

The  next,  Athene  with  the  Voice  of  Power 
Will  speak! 

[227] 


THE  UNVEILING 


MISS  SELWYN 

[As  Athene.     Weird  music] 
As  Goddess  of  the  Greeks,  the  world 
I  pictured  so  that  ages  yet  to  come 
Could  not  outdo !     I  brought  philosophy 
Into  the  world;  made  Greece  produce  a  life 
That's  unsurpassed  in  glory  e'en  to-day — 
At  what  expense  need  not  engage  us  now ! 
I  taught  great  Alexander  how  to  war, 
Spread  Pagan  life  through  Time  and  Space!    Be- 
sides 
The  world  of  Art  would  be  unknown,  likewise 
The  function  of  right-living,  but  for  me. 
Both  now  unjustly  claimed  by  others !     I  disdain 
All  sentiment,  achieve  results,  like  Nature, 
Reckoning  not  the  cost !    The  superman 
Has  been  my  aim !     In  Alcibiades 
He  lived,  in  Caesar  and  Napoleon ! 
He  lives  to-day  in  all  who  seek  supremacy 
Of  self,  the  busy  brute  who  herds  Mankind 
As  sheep,  and  demonstrates  what  he  can  do 
When  he  usurps  the  pow'r  that  wastes  itself 
In  Nature  and  Society !     The  cry 
That  yet  will  set  the  world  aright,  is  back 
To  Greece,  to  Art,  to  thought,  to  life  at  any  cost 
So  that  the  strongest  man  may  be  supreme ! 


ROMAINE 

Artemis  speak  her  message  to  the  world ! 
r  ooft  1 


THE  UNVEILING 


MISS  DENHAM 

[As  Artemis.     Weird  music] 
With  the  achievements  counted,  it  wotdd  seem 
That  nothing  else  was  left  for  me  to  do, 
Such  Fate  was  not  decreed;  besides.  Life's  war 
Will  justify  some  scheming  for  the  Good! 
Howe'er,  I  will  not  prove  that  now;  instead 
Will  show  the  inmost  secrets  of  my  heart, 
And  you  can  judge  the  pain  it  costs  me  when 
Love  makes  me  close  its  door  to  ambush  Love! 

Man's  strife  with  Nature  is  continuous ! 
I  am  his  faithful  visitant  in  all 
His  battles  with  concealed  ills  to-day 
As  in  the  past !     'Twas  I  who  taught  him  how 
To  spear  the  mastodon,  and  to  discover 
The  microscopic  germ,  an  enemy 
More  difficult  to  kill !     But  greatest  yet 
The  Art  to  fight  himself,  to  rid  his  heart 
Of  instincts  which  he  has  outgrown  entirely 
Impeding  his  development  in  stature 
To  that  high  self  which  joins  to  other  selves 
To  make  the  highest  self.  Humanity ! 
This  is  the  world-wide  field  of  work  for  all — 
Self-subjugation  through  self-sacrifice! 
The  symbols  of  Religion  parable 
This  fact  behind  the  veil  of  allegory, 
Making  the  Individual  a  hero, 
Or  God,  who  sacrifices  self  for  all ! 
The  Purpose  of  the  world  is  such  that  Man, 
[229] 


THE  UNVEILING 


The  fruit  of  endless  suffering,  yet  must  lay 
His  life  upon  the  altar,  and  become 
With  Christos  one,  one  with  Humanity 
Before  the  resurrection  of  the  Life 
Religion  gave  to  Man  when  in  the  Tribe 
Can  come  again,  the  Golden  age  of  unity; 
And  he  redeem  the  Race  from  Selfishness; 
Complete  the  Process  making  it  accomplish 
What  Nature  aimed  at  in  the  first  design ! 

[Weird  music.  A  bomb  explodes  out- 
side, followed  by  darkness.  A  cur- 
tain is  dropped  between  entrance  two 
and  three,  and  the  hangings  in  front 
are  raised] 

Scene  II:  On  the  right  is  a  loggia  of  a  college 
building,  on  the  left  a  part  of  a  sorority  house.  The 
rest  of  the  stage  is  dark.  Lights  appear  in  a  room  in 
the  sorority  house  and  Miss  Denham  and  Hardy  are 
discovered  as  in  Act  I. 

HARDY 

You've  given  me  the  secrets  of  your  sex. 
And  I'll  betray  you  mine !     We  thus  support 
Each  other  in  our  plans  enabling  each 
To  win,  for  Love  like  War  discounts  all  means, 
O'er-leaps  all  principle  to  victory, 
Being  a  world  apart  from  right  and  justice! 
You've  told  me  from  your  woman's  heart  what  flag 
[  230  ] 


THE  UNVEILING 


To  raise,  what  folly  preach,  position  take 

To  force  surrender  unconditional ! 

For  Love  like  War  succeeds  when  disaffection 

Makes  hopes  and  soldiers  undecided  in  the  face 

Of  Opposition.     You've  traitored  me  success ! 

I'll  tell  you  in  the  secret  code  the  way 

To  capture  him,  for  Love  like  War,  a  great 

Tactician  is  and  forces  victories 

Through  subterfuges,  and  not  the  open  way; 

So  listen  to  a  general,  not  a  saint !     [Laughs] 

Observe  the  world  in  action,  not  in  speech; 

For  words  are  traitors  all  the  time,  you'll  learn, 

While   actions   when   disguised    the    most    speak 

true! 

Love's  brother  is  Compassion,  so  when  Love 
Comes  not  when  called  invoke  his  substitute ! 
The  end's  not  love,  but  marriage;  and  when  made 
One  marriage  is  as  happy  as  another 
No  matter  how  'tis  made;  life  teaches  this! 
For  Love  is  Nature's  trick  enthralling  us 
In  living  meshes,  then  deserting  us ! 
Love  is  a  poor  companion  when  Want  knocks 
Upon  the  door !     It  is  not  sweet  when  mixed 
With  htmger  for  the  things  that  Love  can't  buy ! 
So  call  his  willing  brother  to  your  aid 
By  that  dissimulation  which  your  sex 
Is  famous  for,  making  yourself  as  dear 
And  near  to  him  through  Sympathy  as  Love ! 
So  then  with  voice,  and  eye  and  gesttire  tie 
[231  ] 


I 


THE  UNVEILING 


Feigned  sorrows  to  his  heart ;  and  when  its  strings 
Are  full,  he  will  not  know  its  pain  from  Love ! 

MISS  DENHAM 

I  thank  you  very  much,  my  best  of  friends ! 

HARDY 

And  I  thank  you,  my  friend!      Meantime,   with 

Pride 
And  Power  harnassed  to  Love's  car,  I'll  bid 
Her  journey  to  the  City  of  Ambition ! 

MISS  DENHAM 

Remember  not  one  word  of  Love  and  she  will  go ! 
[Weird  music.  Darkness.  Lights 
appear  in  the  loggia  on  the  right. 
Dr.  Andrews  is  lecturing  to  the 
students,  Ahriman,  and  Ormazd. 
The  characters  are  all  as  in  Act  I] 

ANDREWS 

Be  not  deceived!     No  matter  what  a  Book 
May  say  God  is,  what  follows  after  Death, 
Remember  Nature  cannot  be  gainsaid! 
It  is  the  best  and  only  sure  expression 
Of  what  God  is,  and  Man's  relationship 
To  Him ;  and  if  undimmed  by  thought  that  men 
Exploit  for  pay;  or  hopes  men  entertain 
Through  folly,  it  will  speak  its  heart  to  all ! 
[232] 


THE  UNVEILING 


FOOL 
*Tis  blasphemy! 

WARING 

Silence !     Or  out  you  go ! 

HARDY 

The  world  has  listened  to  the  Fool  too  long! 

WARING 

The  Knave  too  much ! 

STUDENTS 

Then  out  they  go ! 
[Weird  music.     The  students  rush  the 
Fool   and   Ahriman   off  the   stage. 
Darkness    follows.       There     is    a 
second  explosion] 

Scene  III :  The  curtain  is  raised  between  entrance 
two  and  three  and  the  hangings  as  in  Act  I  are 
lowered.  When  the  lights  come  on,  the  first  scene  is 
taken  up  as  if  there  had  been  no  intermission  except  the 
noise  of  the  bomb.  The  Skulls  begin  to  yell  outside. 
Enter  the  students  with  the  strikers  as  prisoners. 

SKULLS 

[Outside] 
Eat  'em  up !    Eat  *em  up ! 
Men  of  Blair!     Men  of  Blair! 
Hurrah!     Hurrah!     Hturrahl 
Blair!     Blair!     Blair! 
[233I 


THE  UNVEILING 


ROMAINE 

What  does  this  mean  ? 

BRINKMEYER 

[Leader  of  strikers] 

Why,  we  demand  our  rights! 

ROMAINE 

What  rights?    Speak  out  your  grievance! 

BRINKMEYER 

Some  one  has  said 
The  bunting  of  the  statues  is  not  made 
By  Union  Labor! 

STRIKERS 

'Tisso! 

FOOL 

A  petty  thing 
On  which  to  base  a  strike ! 

BRINKMEYER 

Let  me  explain ! 

ROMAINE 

Pray,  who  are  you? 

BRINKMEYER 

I  am  an  agitator! 

FOOL 

His  business ! 

[234I 


THE  UNVEILING 


ROMAINE 

What!     Do  you  make  trouble? 

BRINKMEYER 

Yes; 
The  world  owes  me  a  Uving,  same  as  you ! 

FOOL 

You  have  no  cause  to  strike,  see,  can't  you  read? 
This  bunting  has  the  union  label  on  it!     [Shows 
label] 

BRINKMEYER 

Let  me  tell  you  what  Karl  Marx  says — 

DAVIS 

Karl  Marx? 

FOOL 

The  God  of  SociaHsts!     Ha!  Ha!  Ha!  Ha! 

BRINKMEYER 

Nay!    Nay!    He  is  the  laborer's  friend!    Hear 
him! 

ROMAINE 

Proceed ! 

FOOL 

Be  brief! 

HARDY 

And  to  the  point ! 
[235] 


THE  UNVEILING 


ROMAINE 

Proceed ! 

BRINKMEYER 

Men  enter  in  relations,  definite, 

And  indispensable,  thereby  promoting 

Production  for  the  general  good. 

Unconsciously  and  independently; 

Relations  corresponding  to  the  growth 

Of  natural  production  of  the  Race, 

Making  material  wealth  substrate,  base 

All  superstructures  of  Mankind. 

Political,  judicial,  religious,  ethic 

To  correspond  to  certain  forms  of  mind. 

The  consciousness  of  Man  does  not  determine 

Environment,  instead  environment 

Determines  mind,  all  institutions,  laws. 

At  certain  stages  of  development 

The  forces  of  production  fight  its  forms, 

And  revolution  follows.     With  a  change 

Of  economic  base,  the  world  is  changed ! 

Such  transformations  come,  not  through  the  mind, 

But  economic  circumstances! 

DAVIS 

Does  any  one 
Know  what  he's  saying?     Speak! 

FOOL 

It's  in  my  eye! 
[236I 


THE  UNVEILING 


HAWTRY 

In  simple  language  what  he  says  is  this : 

The  bread  and  butter  question  settles  all. 

The  quality  of  human  thought  is  made 

By  human  want!     Instead  of  all  that's  good 

And  great  determining  what  life  is,  'tis  hunger 

That  fixes  what  the  world  desires !     Again, 

Mankind  has  taken  causes  for  effects ! 

*Tis  not  the  stomach  that  controls  but  Mind ! 

FOOL 

Dutchy,  you  put  the  finger  round  the  ring! 

HAWTRY 

It  is  not  Class  but  Social  Consciousness 
That  should  control  Mankind;  not  conflict;  but 
Cooperation  is  true  Socialism ! 
Religion,  and  not  Selfishness  and  Greed, 
Should  motive  it;  then  Justice  as  a  flower 
Will  fill  the  world  with  sweet  perfume  of  joy. 
The  way  Humanity  must  use  all  Nature 
To  reach  the  goal  of  Life  Eternal  here 
On  Earth !     No  cause  can  rise  above  its  motive ! 
When  men  deny  to  Superstition  the  soul 
Of  Good  that  makes  it  thrive  to-day,  Religion, 
And  let  Religion  work  its  natural  function 
On  Earth  instead  of  being  supernatural ; 
Then  Man  will  be  directed  by  the  Truth, 
Be  motived  by  an  energy  suflBcient 
[237] 


THE  UNVEILING 


To  actualize  the  dream  of  Socialists; 
And  Man  will  cease  to  be  a  child  of  Nature, 
Its  only  kindness  careless  cruelty, 
Accomplishing  through  pain  the  aim  of  Life, 
Which  with  intelligence  can  be  attained 
Through  joy,  avoiding  all  the  horrible 
In  Nature,  and  become  a  child  of  God, 
The  object  of  the  whole  creation ! 

ROMAINE 

That  day 
The  flow'rs  of  Life,  the  Good,  the  Beautiful, 
The  True,  will  be  the  coin  of  Earth  to  buy 
Our  livelihood  and  not  the  pots  of  Egypt ! 
I  see  no  cause  for  disaffection ! 

BRINKMEYER 

We  demand 
Our  rights ! 

STRIKER 

See !    We  get  them !    This  bunting's  made 
By  Union  Labor;  so  'tis  you  betrayed  us! 
Let's  cast  him  forth ! 

MEN 

Aye!    Aye! 
[Men  and  students  led  hy  Skulls  rush 
Brinkmeyer   off  the   stage.     Weird 
music.     The    Fool    stands    at    the 
entrance  grimacing] 
[238] 


THE  UNVEILING 


HAWTRY 

This  is  the  vice  of  labor — to  entrust 

Its  leadership  to  agitators,  instead 

Of  men  who  have  the  cause  at  heart;  and  know 

When  justice  is  presented  fully  now, 

'Twill  of  itself  win  victory  and  peace; 

But  using  either  force  or  fraud  success 

Costs  more  than  failure ! 

FOOL 

[Looking  off] 

Up  with  him!    Ha!  Ha! 

[A  third  bomb  explodes,  weird  music 
and  darkness.  A  curtain  between 
entrance  two  and  three,  descends;  and 
the  hangings  rise  disclosing  a 
loggia  of  a  college  building  on  the 
right  and  a  sorority  house  on  the  left] 

Scene  IV:  It  is  night  and  the  stars  can  be  seen. 
Weird  dreamlike  music.  Waring  enters  as  in  Act 
I  a  romantic  lover.  He  throws  a  small  shot  up  at 
the  window  in  the  sorority  house,  and  when  it  strikes 
the  window  a  light  appears,  and  when  a  second  shot 
strikes  the  window  Miss  Selwyn  opens  the  casement 
and  looks  out. 

WARING 

'Tis  I !    The  stars  of  night  bid  lovers  forth ! 
A  call  that  Youth  can't  disobey !    So  come ! 
[239] 


THE  UNVEILING 


The  words  you  spoke  in  spirit  said  that  you 
Would  let  the  wings  of  Fancy  lead  you  forth, 
So  now  why  not  adventure  while  the  stars 
Are  marching  to  the  dome?  for  ere  you  know 
The  Dawn  will  drive  Romance  away,  and  make 
The  world  full  of  prosaic  eyes !    Come !     Come ! 

MISS  SELWYN 

You  tempt  me  much  against  my  will  to  try 
To  brook  Fate  in  compelling  us  to  act 
Or  not  to  act  without  deceiving  us 
In  thinking  that  we  wish  that  which  we  do. 
And  will  is  free  after  the  action  as 
It  was  before,  no  matter  if  in  our  regret, 
We  prove  it  isn't !    You  remember.  Sir, 
I  am  a  woman,  easily  diverted, 
Never  directed!     I  admire  your  ruse. 
Which,  being  woman  I  cannot  but  see ! 
I  should  not  listen,  let  alone  appear 
To  yield  to  your  calamitous  desire ! 
To  tell  you  truly  all,  your  only  hope 
Lies  in  a  curious  conflict  which  exists 
Between  my  selves,  impelling  me  to  yield 
Or  not  to  yield,  both  being  victors !    Ah ! 

WARING 

You're  kind  and  good!    Forgive  me  will  you  not? 
I  cannot  speak  my  heart !     I  seem  to  be 
The  habitation  of  another  self, 
[240] 


THE  UNVEILING 


Which,  in  possessing  me,  has  driven  out 
Myself !     And  what  I  say  I  would  not  say, 
And  what  I  wish  to  speak  dies  on  my  lips ! 
This  other  self  cries  Life  and  Love !     It  bids 
Me  worship  you !     It  sees  in  you  perfection ! 
All  Nature  superfined !     Nay,  more  than  this ! — 
You  are  to  me  the  end  and  aim  of  being ! 

MISS  SELWYN 

Your  language  is  so  weird,  you  frighten  me ! 

WARING 

Be  not  afraid!    You  are  a  flower,  blown 
To  look  upon,  and  not  to  touch !    A  soul 
Transcending  all  of  womankind !     Unlike 
A  queen,  more  like  a  goddess  wonderful, 
Receiving  love  in  worship  from  the  world! 

MISS  SELWYN 

'Tis  sweet  to  hear  the  music  of  your  voice ! 

It  touches  delitescent  chords  within 

My  heart  I  did  not  know  existed !    Ah !     [Expresses 

feelings] 
*Tis  sweet  to  be  thus  tempted!    Oh,  I  bid 
You  speak! 

WARING 

Come !    Will  you  not  ?    Near  every  child 
Seeks  for  the  Beautiful,  would  pluck  the  Moon 
i6  [  241  ] 


THE  UNVEILING 


As  if  it  were  a  flower  petaled  fair 

Against  the  broad  black  leaves  of  Night  with  stars 

On  them  as  scattered  fire-flies  sleeping !     Oh ! 

It  is  innate  in  us  to  worship  queens 

At  any  cost !     Aspire  where  Reason  sees 

No  hope!     There  is  no  bound  to  Love's  desire — 

So  blame  me  not !     You  are  beyond  compare 

In  all  that  men  name  when  sublimity 

Demands  expression !  Come !  Come !  Come !  Come ! 

MISS  SELWYN 

[  Yielding.     Weird  music] 
Yes !     Yes !     But  if  I  trust  myself  to  you, 
Pray  what  assurance  can  I  have  that  you 
The  fabled  lover  will  not  be,  e'en  now, 
And  carry  me  away! 

WARING 

My  word!     I  pledge 
[She  disappears  at  window] 
My  honor,  and  I  swear  by  Life  and  Love 
To  bide  your  will ! 

[Light  appears  below] 

Delight  divine  enshrines  me  I 
Love!     Love!    Love!     Love! 

[She   opens   the   door   and   he   madly 
takes  her  in  his  arms  and  kisses  her 
savagely.     She  yields  for  a  moment 
then  repels  him.     Weird  music] 
[242] 


IHE  UNVEILING 


MISS  SELWYN 

You  vowed  I  should  be  safe, 
And  yet  you  crush  me  to  that  deatli  delightful, 
Which  lovers  crave,  becoming  one  with  some 
One  else — 

[He  attempts  to  re-embrace  her] 
No!     No!     One   such   embrace    doth 

quite 
SufiBce !     If  this  be  Love,  and  Love  it  is, 
I've  had  enough  to  satisfy  my  heart 
For  aye,  and  aye !     Were  there  another  world, 
And  it  were  fabled  that  by  killing  self 
'Twould  all  be  yours,  what  would  you  gain? 
A  world,  but  suffer  Death!     'Tis  so  of  Love! 
I  thank  you  for  this  touch  of  Love — Ah !    Ah ! — 

[Remembering    the    sweetness    of    the 
kisses] 
And  some  day  when  it  is  forgotten,  come 
To  me  [cruelly]  we  will  be  friends,  and  live  the  life 
That  now  must  be  denied! 

[Goes  in.     Weird  music] 


WARING 

[Wildly,    understanding   the    kind    of 
woman  she  is  at  last] 

You  murder  Level 
0,God!    Ah!    Ah! 

[Rushes  away  like  a  mad  man] 
I  243] 


THE  UNVEILING 


MISS  SELWYN 

[At    the    window  above.    Douhtingly. 
'  Weird  music] 

Love  is  not  all  of  Life ! 
[Darkness.     The  stage  lightens  slightly 
in  front.     Ahriman  and  Ormazd  are 
seen  as  in  Act  I.     Weird  music] 

AHRIMAN 

No  matter  what  Mankind  experiences, 

It  teaches  little  to  the  coming  race ! 

Each  life  is  like  a  dream  that  comes  and  goes 

Forgotten  soon  as  past !    Love's  admonitions, 

If  possible,  are  truly  more  absurd ! 

Instead  of  heeding  them,  the  surest  dupe 

Of  Love  is  its  most  frequent  victim ! 

ORMAZD 

Nay! 
Because  the  world  learns  slowly,  you  would  have 
It  not  at  all,  make  progress  all  a  myth ! 
To  him  who  gets  the  general  view  of  things 
Improvement  stands  out  fully,  'tis  the  Truth ! 
To  specialists,  [Pointing  to  Ahriman]  'tis  different! 
Ha!  Ha! 

[Exeunt     off    right.       Weird    music. 

Light  appears  in  the  loggia.     It  is  a 

meeting   of  the    Trustees   of  Blair 

University  trying  Dr.  Andrews  for 

[244I 


THE  UNVEILING 


heresy.     The  Fool  and  Ahriman  are 
witnesses] 

ROMAINE 

[To  Ahriman  and  Fool] 
'Twill  never  do  to  advertise  what  we 
Oppose !     *Tis  safer  far  to  flatter  it ! 
Belief  will  multiply  a  hundredfold 
Gardened  in  toleration,  while,  if  periled 
In  open  fight,  'twould  be  exterminated! 
We  learn  as  we  go  on !      [To  Andrews]     And  while 

we  do 
Not  sanction  your  progressive  thought  as  spoken, 
We  are  too  honest.  Sir,  to  blame  you  for  it ! 
Instead  we  dignify  you  with  a  title — 

[Attempts  to  put  emblem  of  a  degree  on 
him] 

FOOL 

No!    No! 

AHRIMAN 

[To  Fool] 
The  silken  bonds  of  place  restrict 
More  than  the  chains  of  prison,  for  they  bind 
The  mind  from  all  expression ! 


ORMAZD 
FOOL 

I'd  rather  see  him  suffer! 

[245] 


True!    Quite  true! 


THE  UNVEILING 


AHRIMAN 

Suffer?     Ha! 
The  sorrow  of  not  thinking  far  exceeds 
The  hopeless  pain  of  lack  of  recognition; 
For  Genius  is  so  much  a  part  of  all 
Humanity  'tis  satisfied  to  know 
That  future  men  will  honor  it  though  it 
Be  dead  a  thousand  years!     Do  not  protest! 
But  let  them  load  him  down  with  honors;  chains 
That  bind  the  heart  and  soul ! 

ROMAINE 

[To  Andrews] 

Good  Sir,  instead 
Of  punishment,  we  now  confer  on  you 
The  high  degree  of — 

ANDREWS 

Hold !     First  let  me  speak ! 
Gentlemen :     I  decline  your  gift !     I  prize 
My  freedom  far  above  your  fictive  honors, 
And  tender  you  my  resignation  instead! 


AHRIMAN 

[To  Fool] 
Cry  blasphemy! 


The  world! 

[246] 


ORMAZD 

This  man  will  some  day  rule 


THE  UNVEILING 


AHRIMAN 

That's  what  I  fear !     [  To  Fool] 

This  is  no  place 
For  us ! 

[Exeunt  right.     Weird  music] 

ROMAINE 

[To  Andrews] 

Stay !    This  will  never  do !    Hark  you, 

[To  Trustees] 

To  have  it  said  that  such  a  man  resigned 

Would  ruin  us !    Give  us  a  moment,  Sir ! 

[Consults  with   the   Trustees.     Weird 
music] 

ORMAZD 

[To  Andrews] 
A  wise  commander  does  not  scrutinize 
Too  closely  all  conditions  of  surrender, 
Sufficeth  it,  his  cause  succeeds ! 

ROMAINE 

Good  Sir: 
You  keep  your  chair  upon  your  own  conditions; 
For  all  we  ask  for  is  efficiency; 
Believe  what  e'er  you  will  on  any  subject! 

ANDREWS 

[Consulting  Ormazd] 
A  moment.  Sirs! 

[247I 


THE  UNVEILING 


ROMAINE 
[To  Trustees] 

No  college  can  dictate 
What  teachers  think  to-day ! 

ANDREWS 

I  will  forget 
The  past ;  retain  my  chair  in  perfect  freedom ! 


Aye!    Aye! 


TRUSTEES 


ORMAZD 

The  world  evolves ! 
[Another  bomb  explodes.     Weird  music 
and  darkness] 

Scene  V:  The  curtain  rises  and  shows  the  stage 
as  at  the  end  of  the  third  scene,  which  goes  on  as  if  there 
had  been  no  intermission  except  the  expulsion  of  the 
strikers.  The  students  on  the  outside,  led  by  the  Fool 
and  Skulls,  march  in  singing,  and  everything  goes  on 
as  a  part  of  the  original  program  of  the  unveiling. 

STUDENTS 

We  come,  we  go,  as  years  go  by 

But  Alma  Mater  stays; 
Both  old  and  young  exult  in  her 

And  ever  sing  her  praise! 
[248] 


THE  UNVEILING 


The  world  gives  us  a  thousand  things; 

We're  scattered  far  apart; 
But  Ahna  Mater,  our  true  love 

Reigns  always  in  our  heart! 

So  when  this  life  is  slow  and  dull, 

And  every  day  is  long; 
Our  troubles  fly,  if  we  but  sing 

Her  merits  in  our  song ! 

Dear  Alma  Mater,  warp  of  life 

That's  woven  in  Time's  loom, 
Receive  our  loves,  our  lives,  our  all 

Until  the  day  of  Doom ! 

[Applause  and  great  demonstration] 

ANDREWS 

My  Friends:    At  last  we've  reached  the  day  in  life 
In  which  the  Race  is  looked  at  as  a  whole, 
And  Man  its  child !    The  Solar  System  is 
A  process,  which,  beginning  with  the  atom. 
Unorganized,  dispersed,  in  space,  develops 
That  world  within  a  world  which  is  our  life ! 
We  understand  just  what  things  are  to-day 
Because  the  primal  world  repeats  itself 
In  us,  age  in  and  out,  until  it  mirrors 
The  whole;  while  we  in  repetition  make 
The  Race,  the  master  process  of  the  world ! 
Let  us  not  war  about  our  words  through  lack 
[249I 


THE  UNVEILING 


Of  thought.     The  mechanistic  theory- 
Does  not  preclude  the  spiritual, — no  more 
Than  does  Idealism,  the  Real !    Both  forms 
Of  thought  express  the  self-same  facts  in  Nature, 
Looked  at  from  different  points  of  view!    To-day 
When  we  unveil  these  statues,  showing  all 
The  world-wide  trend  of  thought,  we  do  not  pledge 
Ourselves  to  any  view  that  will  preclude 
The  Truth  no  matter  how  it  be  expressed; 
Because  we  only  wish  to  show  that  now 
At  last,  we  know  what  Nature  is  in  fact; 
And  purpose  that  henceforth,  we  will  direct 
Its  efforts !    Every  stage  of  mind  has  spoken 
But  now  the  facts  will  be  allowed  to  speak; 
And  what  was  said  in  symbol  through  a  veil 
Will  be  expressed  in  scientific  language; 
And  what  was  magnified  in  allegory 
Will  be  expressed  in  simple  facts ;  and  God 
Will  speak  to  Man  through  Knowledge,  not  through 

Faith! 
The  dreams  will  go,  but  in  their  place  the  Truth 
Will  stand,  a  wider  view,  a  higher  Life ! 
The  hoped-for  joys  of  Heav'n  will  yet  be  found 
On  Earth,  the  Everlasting  Life  of  prophecy ! 

FOOL 

We've  had  enough  of  this !     'Tis  like  a  prize 
Convention  where  each  man  admires  himself 
As  seen  in  others,  and,  does  not  perceive 
[  250  ] 


THE  UNVEILING 


He's  talking  to  a  mirror !     Let's  unveil 
The  statues  now,  or  else  devise  a  drama 
Worthy  our  Alma  Mater! 


ROMAINE 


KUMAlJNli 

Pause!     You  must 
Forget  the  purpose  of  this  great  occasion ! 


FOOL 

What  signifies  occasion?     Nothing,  Sire! 

Nothing !     The  minister  announced  a  sermon, 

A  thousand  feelings  and  ideas  took 

The  opportunity  of  exercise, 

Excluding  sermon,  minister,  and  Church ! 

The  same  is  true  of  everything  extant ! 

D'you  think,  most  Reverend  Sir,  we  care  at  all 

For  this  Unveiling  ?     Each  fellow  has  a  pair 

Of  eyes  he's  looking  for !     Of  course,  you  Profs. 

Are  thinking  of  your  vanities,  the  Gods 

And  Goddesses,  well,  I  can  guess  their  thought, 

They  being  in  the  image  of  Mankind, 

But  greater,  add  brag  to  what  they  think!    For 

me. 
Let's  stop  this  talk,  get  down  to  business — 
May  I  suggest — 

STUDENTS 

Go  on! 
I  251) 


THE  UNVEILING 


FOOL 

How  would  a  marriage 
Between  Artemis  and  Ahriman  strike  you? 
Likewise  between  Ormazd  and  Athene? 

[Weird  music.  Great  applause  and 
demonstration.  The  procession 
forms  as  in  the  ceremony  at  the  end 
of  Act  II\ 


STUDENTS 
ROMAINE 

As  we  are  here  to  celebrate  the  Gods 
I  see  no  impropriety  in  this ! 

HARDY 

[Struggling  with  himself] 
No ! — I — protest ! — 

WARING 

And  I  protest! 

FOOL 

And  I 
Insist !    Would  you  prevent  a  view  of  Life  ? 

HARDY 

I've  had  enough! 

[252] 


Hurrah ! 


THE  UNVEILING 


FOOL 
Let's  put  it  to  a  vote ! 
ShaU  we? 

STUDENTS 

Aye!     Aye! 

FOOL 

There  is  no  turning  back ! 

HARDY 

It  cannot  be !    Let  us  unveil  the  statues ! 

FOOL 

This  is  a  part  of  it !     Proceed ! 

HARDY 

[Screams  wildly.     Weird  music] 
No!    No! 

FOOL 

[Lights  as  in  picture  marriage] 
Let    everyone    take    part!      [He    arranges    them] 

Form  two  and  two 
We'll  have  a  wedding  kings  and  queens  cannot 
Surpass! 

[Weird  music  turns  to  a  wedding  march. 
Dr.  Romaine  comes  down  and  joins 
the  hands  of  Hardy  and  Miss  Selwyn, 
Waring  and  Miss  Denham] 

[2531 


THE  UNVEILING 


ROMAINE 
[To  Hardy] 
Do  you  espouse  this  woman  as 
Your  wedded  wife? 

HARDY 

[Screaming  horribly] 

Ah!    Ah! 
[Falls  to  the  floor.     Darkness.     Weird 

music  swells  out  and  there  seems  a 

flitting  of  time] 

Scene  VI:  When  the  lights  come  on,  the  stage  is 
as  it  was  in  Act  /,  showing  the  empty  pedestals 
of  the  Gods.  Waring  is  seated  at  the  table  asleep. 
The  Gods  appear. 

HARDY 

[Lying  on  the  floor] 

Ah!  Ah! 
[//  is  dark  about  Hardy  and  Waring. 
Ahriman  and  Ormazd  glide  towards 
their  pedestals.  Weird  music.  As 
the  stage  lightens  the  Gods  seem  to 
hesitate  what  to  do.  Hardy  is 
struggling  on  the  floor] 

No!     No! 
It  cannot  be !     My  former  life !     No !     No ! 

[He  struggles  to  his  feet,  but  seems  not 
to  realize  the  situation.     It  is  still 

[254] 


THE  UNVEILING 


dark  about  Waring  and  Hardy.  A  s 
Hardy  comes  to  himself,  Ahriman 
and  Ormazd  take  their  places  on  the 
pedestals  as  marble  statues.  Lights 
come  on  naturally.  Waring  and 
Hardy  are  dressed  in  modern  citi- 
zen's clothing.  Weird  music  stops. 
Waring  lifts  his  head  as  if  from  a 
pleasant  sleep.  When  Hardy  fully 
awakes,  and  sees  how  it  all  is  he 
bursts  out  laughing  at  first  rather 
hysterically,  then  joyously] 

Ha !  Ha !     'Tis  all  a  dream !     Ha !  Ha ! 

[Waring  looks  up  surprised.     Hardy's 
laugh  turns  to  one  of  extreme  joy] 
'Tis  all 

A  dream!    Ha!  Ha! 

[Outside,   the  students   can    be   heard 
departing  as  in   Act   I   before    the 
curtain  rises.     Hardy  in  the  center 
of  the  stage  as  if  realizing  it  all] 
A  dream! 


CURTAIN 


[255 


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